In Vratislavice, they have a kindergarten inspired by Japanese style

"It is ideal because the building is unusual. It does not conform to the established ideas of what kindergartens should look like, so of course the teachers will need to get used to it," the mayor stated.

The unconventional kindergarten in the Nova Ruda area was designed by architects Petr Stolín and Alena Mičeková. According to Stolín, they were inspired by Japanese style. The structure consists of two connected narrow two-story wooden buildings, enveloped by a fiberglass shell. According to Stolín, this material has been attracting and fascinating them with its properties for a long time. "It is a durable material, it is translucent, and various effects or different spaces can be created from it," he stated.

The division of the kindergarten is also unusual. There are no classic closed classrooms; instead, it is an open space where the interior merges with the exterior. "It is different in that children have the opportunity for free movement throughout the entire building. Not only in the indoor spaces but also on the beautiful terraces and walkways surrounding the kindergarten," said the kindergarten director, Dana Keltnerová.

The building has a minimum of walls and doors that would restrict the children. Inside the structure, there are views, openings, walkways, or transitions. According to the director, teachers will have to get used to the unusual kindergarten just like the children. "Personally, I find the metal staircase a bit challenging, even though design-wise it is beautiful," she noted. However, she believes that only the children will show whether the atypical construction poses any risks. "Or conversely, the risks we perceive may not be risks for the children," she added.

According to the project authors, teachers have a better overview thanks to the open space. "The entire building is equipped with large windows that provide views across the structure. You have the opportunity from all possible corners to see where people or children are moving within the building," Mičeková stated. "For us, this is a characteristic feature; we like to open the interior to the exterior, which makes it very inviting even in the lower floors," she added.

The construction of the kindergarten cost nearly 30 million crowns, the town hall purchased equipment for it for 2.3 million crowns, and more than four million was spent on the new road leading to the kindergarten. The new kindergarten in Vratislavice was built because the existing capacity is no longer sufficient. The capacity of kindergartens located in five places within the eight-thousand-inhabitant administrative district now exceeds 300 places.