~ Nursery School on the Hill ~ Apricot Nursery School
Delivery date: May 2019
About a year after we started discussing the project, Apricot Nursery School, located in a residential area of Kawasaki City, was completed. For the Nakayoshi Library, we were in charge of lockers for children aged 0 to 5, as well as tables and chairs. It is a three-story nursery school with a great view.
Request from HP
In June 2018 , Akihiro Yoshida/Yoshida Design Workshop, the designer , contacted us, saying, "We would like to consult with you about the furniture and fixtures for the nursery school, as well as proposals for the plan." From then on, we mainly communicated by email until the opening, and in August we met on-site for the first time, and started meetings with the client and the three parties involved.
Consider moving furniture.
The main childcare room for 3- to 5-year-olds has a toilet in the center, with a space for children to move around around it. Since children of different ages participate in activities together, we wanted the room to be flexible enough to be able to rearrange the furniture (lockers) depending on the childcare situation.
The construction of the back panel is particularly important
With a movable locker like this, the appearance of the back is also a concern. The back is made of a single piece of cypress wood without any knots. This makes it look beautiful. The board is 1cm thick. Unlike plywood or plywood, it is also strong.
It doesn't fill up quickly
In the first year of a kindergarten, classes for 3- to 5-year-olds are often under capacity, and it can be a challenge to figure out how to provide chairs, desks, etc. Chairs, in particular, vary in height depending on age.
This time, we had a certain expectation that people would be entering the park after it opened, so we prepared chairs for all capacity and chose trapezoid tables.
Advantages of trapezoidal tables
There are two trapezoid tables that can seat eight people.
In addition, by changing the combination, you can enjoy changing it into a circle, a large hexagonal table, a rectangle, or a triangle. Also, the big difference with the square table is that when the children sit, they do not sit facing each other, but diagonally across from each other.
This is the most comfortable position for friends to sit and talk together. It's a table that can be used in many different ways.
Lunch room plan
Due to the building's design, the plan was based on limited space for the lunchroom.
Initially, we had planned to combine 60cm x 60cm square tables, but we gave up on this idea because it would be too cramped for the children.
Therefore, we decided to use the tables at different meal times. We wanted to make it more fun for the children to use, and we wanted to make a table that is a little different from other kindergartens! So we used the Magatama table. It can be used alone or two tables can be combined.
Also, the height of the table that is easy to use varies depending on the age of the child. The table legs come with 6cm height-raising parts so that they can be adjusted to suit the child.
Child-friendly design
The corners of the childcare furniture at Nakayoshi Library are rounded and the handles are polished to a smooth finish. All the furniture, including the back panels and bottom panels of the drawers, is made of natural Japanese cypress.
Making history through aging
Hinoki, the main material used in nursery furniture, is resistant to moisture and its scent has a healing and calming effect on children. Over time, it turns amber, scratches and dents become part of the character, and it gradually transforms into a beautiful piece of furniture with a retro feel. This is a unique feature of wood that cannot be found in furniture made from plywood or melamine. At Nakayoshi Library, we want many children to experience this benefit.
Wood is very resistant to water
Nakayoshi Library's nursery furniture is coated with natural vegetable oil twice. The first coat penetrates the wood and hardens internally. The second coat of oil creates a coating on the surface. This coating finish repels water from the surface even if you put in slightly wet shoes, reducing the risk of water penetrating into the interior.
In addition, the cypress used is highly resistant to water and rot (due to the tannins contained in cypress).For this reason, it is used for the foundations and pillars of many wooden buildings, including Horyuji Temple, the oldest wooden building in Japan.
Regarding delivery time.
The peak season is from October to April. Orders placed during this period will take 2 months to be delivered. For other periods, please allow approximately 1 month for delivery.
bonus
Apricot Nursery School tickles the playful side of adults too. Between the 3rd and 2nd floors, there is a net playground.
This is also relaxing for adults.