4.-Jan-Braker-Architekt_ASB-Kita-Bachlinge_2019-2022_Jakob-B”rner

Project of the month

Kindergarten Lütjensee: A roof over the children’s laughter

Round, playful shapes, natural materials and flowing movements: In the municipality of Lütjensee, architects Jan Braker have built a new kindergarten that blends harmoniously into the natural surroundings. The architectural concept takes into account the contour lines of the sloping terrain and favours an organic design. The group rooms are arranged radially and orientated towards the spacious outdoor play area, while a multifunctional central room forms the heart of the building. A terrace in front with a pergola made of Siberian larch provides additional space for playing and lingering outdoors. At the same time, it protects against excessive sunlight and thus contributes to a pleasant indoor climate.

Lots of visible wood

The building rests on a reinforced concrete slab with a surrounding concrete base. The walls are made of prefabricated timber frame slabs and the roof is made of cross-laminated timber panels. The roof construction of the kindergarten follows the curved shape of the building and emphasises the organic architecture of the project. The load-bearing structure consists of cross-laminated timber panels, which were supplemented by additional wooden beams and supports in the central multi-purpose room. Here, the timber construction remains visible, which emphasises the natural material aesthetics in the interior.

Central daylight source in the roof structure

The roof has integrated skylights that ensure natural lighting and ventilation of the interior. A centrally positioned skylight in the multi-purpose room enhances this effect and creates a pleasant room atmosphere. The roof was also prepared for a photovoltaic system in order to sustainably optimise the kindergarten’s energy consumption. Aluminium profiled sheets from Kalzip were used in this project to guarantee a durable and weather-resistant roof covering. Thanks to the flexibility of the material, the radially arranged roof surface could be realised efficiently and seamlessly. Despite the complex geometry, the system enables reliable sealing and a homogeneous appearance.

Precise cutting required

The planners deliberately chose aluminium as the material for the roof covering because, in addition to its high weather resistance, it also offers excellent recyclability. The low maintenance and long service life of the Kalzip solution also contributed to the decision in favour of this system. The particular challenge of the project lay in the radial roof pitch, which required the Kalzip standing seam profiles to be adapted precisely. The special profiling of the aluminium panels meant that installation could be carried out efficiently and economically. The combination of traditional timber construction and state-of-the-art metal roofing shows how innovative solutions can set new standards in architecture. Architect Jan Braker is convinced by the material: ‘With Kalzip, we can create roofs that adapt to nature, direct light and offer protection.

With the new kindergarten in Lütjensee, Kalzip has once again demonstrated its expertise in the realisation of sophisticated roof constructions. The successful combination of aesthetic design, functionality and sustainability makes this project a role model for contemporary building with aluminium standing seam profiles. The outstanding project received the Kalzip Architecture Award in Gold 2024.