Fulnek Kindergarten by XTOPIX architekt
Fulnek Kindergarten sits in the northern reach of its garden site in Fulnek, Czech Republic, designed by XTOPIX architekt as a compact, low-slung school. The building orients its life to the south, where courtyards cut into the slope and open classrooms to views of the château across town. Calm materials, a legible plan, and child-scaled thresholds shape a daily rhythm of arriving, playing, and gathering.
Morning light slides across charred pine and lingers on the southern courtyards. A low roofline tracks the slope, then releases long views toward the château and town beyond.
This new kindergarten in Fulnek, by XTOPIX architekt, arranges learning and play through a clear plan and measured sequence. The building sits to the north of a generous garden, then opens south so every classroom steps outdoors. Plan makes the day legible.
Follow The Slope
Set into the site, the elongated volume moves with the terrain and keeps the garden in constant view. A charred pine skin darkens toward the trees, while the low profile reads friendly and scaled to children. Orientation does the heavy lifting: south-facing glazing draws light deep inside and keeps outdoor rooms just a few steps away.
Courtyards As Thresholds
Two atria bite into the southern edge so the garden enters the building and the building opens to the garden. These inlets form semi-sheltered entries where glazed vestibules lead to cloakrooms, softening the shift from public realm to each group’s home room (parents pause here without breaking the flow). Short moves feel safe, while sightlines remain long and clear.
Classrooms In Pairs
Four ground-floor classrooms pair around the courtyards, each with its own outdoor door and direct path to grass. Inside, a modular approach breaks the open plan into activity zones using a recurring square motif for clarity and play. That square repeats at multiple scales—from ceiling joists and window frames to acoustic panels, movable storage, and classroom furniture—so organization becomes intuitive.
Color For Wayfinding
Each classroom carries a distinct color to guide children through cloakrooms, washrooms, and serving points. The teaching rooms themselves remain quiet and neutral, with white surfaces, birch plywood, and polished concrete acting as a calm backdrop for activity. A collaborative workshop created a custom “kindergarten font,” turning signage and wayfinding into a project the children helped author.
Stair To The Gathering Room
A central stair hall ties the horizontal corridor to the upper level, where a large multi-purpose room hosts movement, assemblies, and celebrations. From here, wide views stretch across Fulnek’s historic center, and a terrace steps out to an extensive green roof that knits the school to its landscape. Community and outlook reinforce each other.
The day ends where it began, in light and garden air. Children weave back through atria and under the charred pine eaves, carrying the site’s rhythm with them. Quiet materials and a lucid plan keep the building gentle, resilient, and easy to read.
Photography by Ondřej Tylčer
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