Resembling the settlement

In the quiet neighbourhood of Ivanja Reka in eastern Zagreb, rows of detached houses with red gable roofs define the landscape. Surrounded by meadows and open green spaces, the settlement consists of mainly single-family homes with private gardens.
 
In response to the growing need for a nursery and kindergarten, architect Davor Mateković of Proarh studio was tasked with designing a space for 100 kids and toddlers. He took inspiration from the surrounding homes, transforming their shapes into a contemporary building complex. “The basis is the shape of the local houses, their direction of placement in the streets, and then these volumes are multiplied,” he explains.

The result is a village-like arrangement, where children can gather, socialise, play, and explore. Spanning over 1,500 m² of indoor space on two floors, the kindergarten offers enough room for the daily needs of children, infants and caretakers.
 
Multifunctional halls in the heart of the building act as meeting points, connecting the kindergarten with the nursery. The generous outdoor area integrates age-appropriate elements like swings, seesaws, and slides. The topography of hills and hollows further encourages creative exploration. 

The project establishes a strong visual identity by using two distinct façade elements: Tondach Biber Nature Copper-Brown and metal slats in a lighter brown. The tiles seamlessly wrap over the roof and two façades while metal slats cover the gable façades. This creates a strong, monolithic appearance. Functionally, this choice of design ensures the children’s privacy while providing ventilation and light filtering, creating a comfortable indoor environment.
 
The simple, groove-less Biber tiles have a long tradition in European architecture. They belong to the oldest traditional roofing tile shapes. However, their versatility makes them equally suitable for modern designs. In this project, the Biber tiles help to connect the modern structure to the local architecture. Through its rhythmic repetition of forms, interplay of open spaces, and careful material selection, the Ivanja Reka kindergarten balances tradition and modernity.