Step into the imaginative world of the Day Nursery and Toy Library. Nestled at the foot of a ’60s tower block, this 100% wood and reused biobased construction project seamlessly blends with the redefined Louvois district in Vélizy, France.
The revitalization of the neighborhood centers around a landscaped basin and a new axis with wooden-clad shop windows, while the project itself breathes new life into the basement level with a day nursery and a toy library.
Upholding a contextual approach, materials recovered from the demolition were directly reused, creating a space that is both sustainable and visually stunning. From the exterior’s protective grid of poplar slats to the soft and intimate patios within, every aspect of this design showcases the beauty and functionality of wood. Step inside and let your imagination run wild in this innovative and eco-friendly space.
Project Overview
Location
The Day Nursery and Toy Library project is located in Velizy-Villacoublay, France. It is situated at the foot of a ’60s tower block in the Louvois district of Vélizy.
Size
The total area of the project is 1075 m².
Year
The project is expected to be completed in 2023.
Introduction
The Day Nursery and Toy Library is a unique project that aims to provide a safe and stimulating environment for children. The design concept focuses on creating a contextual approach that integrates with the surrounding area, while also incorporating sustainable design principles.
Design Concept
Contextual Approach
The design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library takes into consideration the existing architecture and landscape of the Louvois district. By redeveloping the neighborhood and creating a new floor in the complex, the project seamlessly blends with its surroundings. The use of wood and natural materials further enhances the contextual approach.
Reuse of Materials
To promote sustainability and reduce waste, the project incorporates the reuse of materials. During the demolition process, materials such as slabs of schist and tree trunks were salvaged and reintegrated into the new building.
Interior Space
The interior space of the Day Nursery and Toy Library is designed to be open and inviting. A double-height space allows for ample natural light, while patios and play gardens create intimate and interactive areas for children. The use of wood as a structural material adds warmth and texture to the interior.
Exterior Facade
The exterior facade of the Day Nursery and Toy Library is characterized by a grid of poplar slats spaced every 45 centimeters. These slats, along with sheets of coppery zinc, create an opaque appearance from the outside, while allowing views and natural light from the rooms inside. The facade is clad in wood, further emphasizing the integration with the surrounding environment.
Project Details
Site Plan
The site plan of the Day Nursery and Toy Library showcases the layout and arrangement of the building within its context. It highlights the integration with the surrounding landscape and the creation of outdoor spaces for children.
Axonometric
The axonometric drawing of the Day Nursery and Toy Library provides a three-dimensional representation of the project. It showcases the various levels and volumes of the building, as well as the integration of different materials and design elements.
Floor Plan
The floor plan of the Day Nursery and Toy Library illustrates the spatial organization and layout of the interior spaces. It depicts the arrangement of rooms, circulation areas, and outdoor areas, emphasizing the flow and functionality of the building.
Section
The section drawing of the Day Nursery and Toy Library showcases the vertical organization of the building. It highlights the different levels, heights, and relationships between spaces, providing a comprehensive understanding of the interior design.
Elevations
The elevations of the Day Nursery and Toy Library depict the exterior facades of the building. They showcase the design elements, materials, and fenestration, providing a visual representation of the architectural concept.
Interior Design
Layout and Flow
The interior layout of the Day Nursery and Toy Library is designed to optimize the flow and functionality of the space. The arrangement of rooms, furniture, and circulation areas ensures easy navigation and a seamless experience for both children and caregivers.
Use of Wood
Wood plays a significant role in the interior design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library. It is used as a structural material and also as a finish, adding warmth and natural appeal to the space. The use of wood enhances the sensory experience for children and creates a calming atmosphere.
Furniture and Lighting
The selection of furniture and lighting in the Day Nursery and Toy Library is carefully curated to meet the needs of children and provide a comfortable and engaging environment. The furniture is designed with child-friendly proportions and materials, while the lighting fixtures enhance the ambiance and create focal points within the space.
Exterior Design
Landscape Design
The landscape design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library focuses on creating outdoor spaces for children to explore and play in a safe and secure environment. The integration of nature, greenery, and age-appropriate play elements enhances the sensory experience and promotes physical activity.
Facade Design
The facade design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library is characterized by the use of wood and natural materials. The grid of poplar slats and coppery zinc sheets creates a visually appealing and sustainable design aesthetic. The facade is designed to be opaque from the outside, ensuring privacy and security, while providing transparency and views from the inside.
Integration with Existing Building
The Day Nursery and Toy Library seamlessly integrates with the existing building in the Louvois district. By cladding the foot of the facade with materials that match the construction, the project creates visual unity and removes any impression of addition. The integration with the surrounding architecture enhances the overall aesthetic and contributes to the contextual approach.
Functional Spaces
Day Nursery
The Day Nursery is a functional space within the project that provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for children. It is designed with age-appropriate furniture, play areas, and amenities to support the development and well-being of children.
Toy Library
The Toy Library is another essential space within the project that promotes exploration, imagination, and learning through play. It is designed to be interactive and engaging, with a wide range of toys and educational materials for children to enjoy.
Patios and Play Gardens
The Day Nursery and Toy Library also feature patios and play gardens that provide outdoor spaces for children to explore and engage with nature. These areas are designed to be safe and stimulating, with age-appropriate play equipment and natural elements.
Structural Design
Wood as Structural Material
The structural design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library incorporates wood as the primary material. Wood offers several advantages, including its strength, durability, and environmental sustainability. It allows for flexible design solutions and provides a natural and warm aesthetic.
Joists and Skylights
The project utilizes joists and skylights to optimize natural light and create a connection with the outdoors. The joists, accompanied by linear light strips, enhance the visual appeal and direct the eye towards the views outside. The skylights bring additional natural light into the interior spaces, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.
Continuous Floors
The Day Nursery and Toy Library feature continuous floors that promote seamless movement and accessibility. The absence of thresholds and transitions enhances the flow and functionality of the space. It provides a safe and inclusive environment for children with diverse mobility needs.
Sustainability
Biobased Construction
The Day Nursery and Toy Library project is a 100% wood and reused biobased construction. The use of wood as a primary material promotes sustainable practices and reduces the environmental impact. The incorporation of reused materials further contributes to the project’s sustainability goals.
Reuse of Materials
To minimize waste and promote sustainability, the Day Nursery and Toy Library project incorporates the reuse of materials. During the demolition process, materials such as slabs of schist and tree trunks were salvaged and reintegrated into the new building. This approach not only reduces the environmental footprint but also adds character and uniqueness to the project.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a key consideration in the design of the Day Nursery and Toy Library. The project incorporates sustainable design strategies, such as passive solar design, natural ventilation, and efficient lighting systems. These measures help reduce energy consumption and create a comfortable and environmentally friendly space.
Conclusion
The Day Nursery and Toy Library project is a remarkable example of sustainable and child-centric design. The contextual approach, reuse of materials, and integration with the existing building showcase the architectural firm’s commitment to creating harmonious and environmentally responsible spaces. The Day Nursery and Toy Library provide a safe, stimulating, and sustainable environment for children to learn, play, and grow.
Whispers of Wood: A Magical Nursery in the Heart of Vélizy
Imagine a place where the boundaries of imagination blur with the hum of construction, a place where children’s laughter mingles with the scent of freshly cut wood. Step into the Day Nursery and Toy Library by a+samueldelmas architectes, a unique structure that stands at the base of a ’60s tower block in the recently reimagined Louvois district of Vélizy, France. It’s not just a building—it’s a story of transformation, ingenuity, and sustainability.
To understand why this project is special, you need to appreciate the context. Picture a cityscape dominated by a tower block, relics of the architectural style of the 1960s, stark and somewhat imposing. But now, in the shadow of this building, a new vision is taking root. The Day Nursery and Toy Library is not just a functional space for children; it’s a testament to how architecture can bridge the gap between past and future, combining creativity with sustainability.
A Nursery Where Magic Meets Wood
If you could transport yourself into the mind of a child, the nursery would likely feel like a hidden sanctuary, a space carved out of natural materials, playful and warm. The architects decided to use wood as the foundation of this vision—not just any wood, but 100% biobased and reused materials, as if the trees themselves had whispered ideas of sustainability. And that’s not just poetic fancy; the project literally salvages materials from the demolition of the original structures, creating a nursery that is both a space to dream in and a living example of how to reuse and rethink what we’ve already got.
Take, for instance, the slabs of schist and the trunks of trees that have been repurposed into the new building. If these materials could talk, they’d tell you they’d once lived a completely different life in another structure. Now, they’re reborn, integrated into the nursery and toy library, infusing the space with the character of something ancient, while feeling entirely fresh and modern.
A Toy Library? Yes, But Not As You Know It
Now, when was the last time you heard of a Toy Library? In a world of mass consumption and plastic toys that have a lifespan shorter than a toddler’s attention span, a toy library feels like a revelation. It’s a place where children can come to borrow toys the way you or I might borrow books from the local library. It’s whimsical, yes, but there’s a deeper lesson here—about sharing, sustainability, and the richness of experience over material possession.
This isn’t your average daycare or play center. The architects have crafted an environment that is as much about teaching children the importance of care—for their toys, for their environment—as it is about creating a fun space to play. And the design reflects this ethos. The use of poplar slats spaced at 45 centimeters across the facade creates an exterior that both protects and invites. From the outside, it’s opaque, but from within, the building opens up to views of the world outside, almost as if it’s giving children a sense of safety while encouraging their curiosity to roam.
Breathing New Life Into the Neighborhood
The Day Nursery and Toy Library is part of a larger vision for the revitalization of the Louvois district. If you visited the area before, you’d have seen an aging urban landscape, struggling to keep pace with the needs of a new generation. But now, with the redevelopment of the neighborhood focused around a landscaped basin and a pedestrian-friendly axis lined with wooden-clad shop windows, the entire area has been transformed.
The project itself doesn’t just sit at the foot of the tower block—it interacts with it. The architects have cleverly created an underground level that houses both the nursery and the toy library, turning what could have been a cold and uninviting space into something full of life. Inside, you’ll find play gardens, patios, and a double-height space that’s flooded with natural light. These are not just design choices; they are intentional decisions aimed at creating a space where children can feel free, open, and connected to the natural world, even in the heart of a modern urban landscape.
The Playful Genius of Wood
One of the most striking elements of the Day Nursery and Toy Library is its use of wood—not just for structure, but as a tactile, sensory experience. Walk inside, and you’ll be enveloped by the warmth and texture of wood. Every surface seems to beckon touch, to invite interaction. The soft, intimate patios feel almost like secret gardens, nestled between walls of natural materials. And the ceilings, with their skylights and beams, lead the eye up and out, connecting the interior spaces to the sky above. It’s the kind of environment that doesn’t just house children but sparks their imaginations.
Wood, as it turns out, has a few tricks up its sleeve. It’s not just a sustainable material—it’s alive in a way that steel or concrete never could be. It absorbs light differently, feels warmer, and even smells more inviting. And in the hands of a+samueldelmas architectes, wood becomes a storyteller, whispering tales of forests, craftsmanship, and sustainability into the heart of this urban setting.
Reimagining Sustainability
But sustainability here isn’t a buzzword—it’s a practice. The architects didn’t just talk about it; they lived it. By reusing materials from the original site and incorporating energy-efficient design strategies, the Day Nursery and Toy Library does more than check the boxes for green design. It redefines how we think about the lifecycle of buildings. The use of passive solar design, natural ventilation, and energy-efficient lighting systems ensures that the building doesn’t just look eco-friendly—it is eco-friendly, in the most functional way.
It’s rare to find a building that feels both playful and serious about its impact on the environment. But that’s exactly what this project achieves. It invites children into a world of wonder while gently teaching them—and us—that architecture can do more than shape space. It can shape the future.
Conclusion: More Than Just A Building
At the end of the day, the Day Nursery and Toy Library isn’t just a place for children to play. It’s an idea—a living, breathing example of how architecture can push boundaries, tell stories, and even make us rethink the way we build and live. It stands as proof that, with a little imagination and a lot of thoughtful design, even the most unassuming places can become magical. And for the children who get to grow up in this space? They might just learn that the most important toy in their library is the world around them.
