in fukushima, aisaka architects builds 'tesoro nursery' as a structure meant for play

japanese studio aisaka architects’ atelier presents its newly completed ‘tesoro’ nursery school in fukushima. the playful work occupies a residential neighborhood of the city, and with its name, recalls the italian ‘treasure box.’ the design team creates the school for ninety students to introduce a space in which children can play freely. with a functional design strategy, the private access road is consolidated onto the enclosed site while nursery rooms are elevated above the road at the second level. this organization ensures a space for a large, centralized open-air play area away from vehicles on the ground.

images by shigeo ogawa

aisaka architects’ atelier orients its tesoro nursery school to open outward to the east for a sweeping view of the mountains on the horizon. as interior and exterior spaces are woven together with interconnected circulatory routes, the building itself expresses an enormous play structure,  incorporating a slide, a climbing wall, and staircases of various sizes. the school is enclosed by a wrapping, undulating, concrete wall pierced by numerous holes, enhancing security and privacy. in addition to this sturdy reinforced concrete, materials include wooden wainscotting inside and in high-visibility exterior areas, and easy-to-maintain galvalume roofing and siding in areas exposed to blowing snow.

with the tesoro nursery, aisaka architects’ atelier leaves space for future transformations as the needs of its occupants expand over time. this includes unprogrammed exterior spaces that might be sites for rooftop vegetable beds or a futsal court, while the exterior flooring can be converted into wooden decks. in this way, the design team hopes that the school as it stands now represents not its peak state but rather a starting point for staff to work toward dreams and goals in a building they love over the next decade.

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project info:

project title: tesoro nursery school

architecture: aisaka architects’ atelier

location: fukushima, japan

structure: kanebako structural engineers

equipment: P.T.morimura & assosiates, LTD

lighting design: komorebi design

completion: december 2019

photography: shigeo ogawa