Kindergarten Kreuzgut
Kindergarten in Schaffhausen, SwitzerlandCompetition entry 2026
In collaboration with Lena Paulsson Architektin
The four kindergarten units are arranged over two floors around a central entrance and circulation core. Each unit has a direct relationship to the garden, allowing activities to move easily between inside and out. A generous covered veranda provides sheltered outdoor space, connects the upper floor to the landscape and creates a playful threshold between the building and garden.
Reuse is central to the construction and character of the project. An extensive catalogue of components from the existing kindergarten is integrated into the new building. Existing timber beams of different dimensions and lengths are assembled into new structural trusses, allowing
beams are incorporated into the floor structures, while existing roof tiles are given a new life as façade cladding. Doors, sanitary elements, lighting, kitchen fittings, furniture and play equipment are reused wherever possible.
The reused components are designed to remain demountable: rather than being glued, they are mechanically joined, allowing them to be dismantled and reused again in the future. New prefabricated timber construction is combined with these existing elements to create a building that treats the existing material stock not as waste, but as a resource and an integral part of its architectural expression.
The landscape extends the existing school grounds through a diverse garden of trees, meadow, planting and play areas, creating a shared environment for learning, play and encounter.