Little Prince
Kindergarten proposal for Manufaktuuri Quarter
An original 1899 villa is restored and extended to create a kindergarten for 10 groups of children. The concept is inspired by the Little Prince illustration of a boa constrictor eating an elephant… or a villa.
A competition submission with Architect 11 (Sander Aas, Aleksandra Gorlats, Darja Korjukina, Aaron Renser).
The competition proposal was awarded II place and praised by the jury as a “well-considered and strong proposal … it’s clear, bold, the thinking is out of the box…. the presented proposal is the most daring”.
Inspired by history.
The site was originally the location of the Baltic Cotton Factory director's villa designed by locally renowned architect Rudolf Otto von Knüpffer and built in 1899; the building has been listed with Muinsuskaitse (Estonian Heritage body). Before it could be restored, the building was destroyed by fire in 2019, leaving only the villa foundation. The villa featured an "auring," a historical round garden feature positioned in front of the villa's main entrance, facing the city center. This auring created a central circular space surrounded by paths, enhancing the villa's stately appearance and providing a formal, welcoming ambiance. The adjacent photo shows the arrangement, circa 1910.
Referencing the Little Prince, to stimulate children’s imagination.
The competition brief is to restore the historical villa, turning it into an integral part of the kindergarten. Considering the building is aimed at children (and their parents), the architectural concept aims to not only celebrate the historical building, but also turn it into an exciting story that sparks imagination. For that, few stories are better than the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — and his famous boa that swallows elephants whole. In our story, that same boa swallows the villa instead! The story lead to an architectural concept that re-interprets the relationship between the villa and new-build extension in an abstracted way.
South-facing sheltered courtyard in the park — to play & learn outside.
During the day, the central courtyard receives a lot of sunshine, resulting in a bright and welcoming playspace. The mass of the Manufaktuur building to the South-West, combined with an enclosed shape of the proposal, result in a space that is protected from prevailing wind directions. This tree-filled space creates a quiet, safe and pleasant space for play, with the adjacent park further enhancing the feeling of being at one with nature — despite being in a bustling urban area.
