In the heart of Munich’s Technical University campus, a new five‑storey daycare has opened that treats its young users like architects of their own play.
Design rooted in child‑scale thinking
The Kinderoase, designed by Kéré Architecture in partnership with Austrian timber specialists HK Architekten, replaces a former parking lot between the university’s main grounds and its cafeteria. The building occupies 1,540 square metres and serves up to 60 children.
Almost every structural element is made of Alpine spruce, with only the foundation slab and a southern emergency staircase built from reinforced concrete. A shroud of Corten steel slats adds texture to the façade, while floor‑to‑ceiling glazing lets daylight reach deep into interior rooms.
“We designed the Kinderoase entirely from the perspective of the children who will use it,” said architect Francis Kéré. “We created a vertical playground where they can run, climb and slide from one floor to another.”
The concept guides the layout: reception and administrative offices sit on the ground floor, while age‑specific classrooms occupy the upper levels. Communal spaces for play, sports and meals are placed on the middle and upper stories.
Playful circulation and interior warmth
Connecting each floor are sculptural wood slides that turn vertical movement into an invitation to play. A canary‑yellow spiral staircase offers a more conventional route, yet retains a bright, child‑friendly feel. The slides also act as acoustic buffers, separating quieter rooms from street noise.
Inside, the timber framework remains exposed, radiating warmth. Ash wood treads, custom furniture and storage units reinforce the welcoming atmosphere, while the limited steel elements provide subtle contrast.
The rooftop hosts a partially covered terrace.
It is dubbed “Himmelswiese” or “sky meadow,” giving children safe outdoor access to run, feel the wind and view the city from a unique perch.
From a broader perspective, the project reflects a growing trend of integrating childcare facilities directly into university campuses, a shift that mirrors earlier European efforts to support student parents. While the concept is not new, the vertical stacking of play areas in a compact urban site is relatively rare, making the Kinderoase a notable example of how limited footprints can still deliver rich, multi‑level experiences for young families.
Kéré’s portfolio includes projects such as the Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso and the Burkina Institute of Technology. He notes that his early work focused on schoolchildren, and now he is building for the very youngest, describing it as “a beautiful responsibility.”
