Construction has started on a new childcare center at Munich’s Technical University in Germany designed by Kéré Architecture.

Envisioned as a new vertical childcare center, the daycare center, named Ingeborg Pohl Kinderoase an der TUM, will be constructed using wood. 

Situated on a site at Gabelsbergerstrasse 41, the new building is located directly between the TUM main campus and the university canteen.

Berlin-based architecture practice Kéré Architecture has conceived a building that will be "mostly built in timber," and vertical structure aiming to minimize the building’s carbon footprint.

The five-story building will feature several rooms for childrens' facilities, administration rooms and a roof terrace. While childrens' facility rooms are scattered across the three stories in the middle, administration will be placed on the ground level. 

In addition, the top floor - designed as a covered roof terrace - this space will serve as childrens' play area where they enjoy the sheltered outdoor space, with panoramic views across Munich. 

The studio called this outdoor play area as Himmelswiese, which meant “field of the heavens” in German. 

When complete in 2025, the 700-square-metre building will accommodate 60 children.

The studio has designed the building’s entire interior, where children will find a series of spaces of various scales designed to spark creativity. Several floors are connected by slides, and the façade of the building highlights the playful energy of children. 

"When we build for the little ones, we want them to be able to run around outside and feel the elements," said Francis Kéré, the founder of Kéré Architecture. 

"I would also like to colonize the neighboring roofs, starting by connecting our building with the roof of the cafeteria and turning that into a giant meadow," Kéré added.

The new building will be built mostly with timber, taking into account local norms and standards for energy efficiency, thermal comfort, fire protection and acoustics. 

"This is aimed at minimizing the building’s carbon footprint while maintaining simple and high-quality construction in line with the philosophy of Kéré Architecture," stated in a project description. 

The studio is collaborating with Austrian firm Hermann Kaufmann + Partner, who are experts in wood construction.

"We wanted to take the sustainability of the building to the extreme and build it entirely out of wood," explained Francis Kéré.

"This building will serve several great purposes: First and foremost, it will help the mothers working at TUM by ensuring that the children are well looked after there during the day. In the company of their peers, they will be encouraged in their development, play, romping, and discovery," said Ingeborg Pohl.

The Munich Student Union will take over the operation of the daycare center after completion.

Site plan

The third floor plan

The fifth floor plan

Kéré Architecture completed a community center that features butterfly roofs and low-rise structures in Kamwokya, one of the most underserved areas of Uganda’s capital Kampala. 

The studio's other project, Goethe Institute, is under construction in Dakar, Senegal.

Project facts

Project name: Ingeborg Pohl Kinderoase an der TUM

Design: Kéré Architecture, Berlin, in cooperation with Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH, Schwarzach

Structural engineering, fire protection, and building physics: TUM Prof. Stefan Winter bauart Konstruktions GmbH & Co. KG, Munich

Energy efficiency: TUM Prof. Thomas Auer, Munich

Technical building services: ITG-Ingenieurgesellschaft für TGA mbH, Munich

Landscape planning: JÜHLING & KÖPPEL Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, Munich

Project control and construction management: GAPP GmbH, Munich

All renders and drawings © Kéré Architecture.

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