The new “Stadtgärten am Henninger Turm” residential complex is almost complete, with only a kindergarten remaining. Centrally located in this area, the kindergarten sits adjacent to the main east-west road connecting the historic Henninger buildings with the newly constructed high-rise residences. Alongside a shopping area on the ground floors of nearby buildings, this kindergarten provides vital services to the community, conveniently serving nearly 1,000 apartment residents.
Located next to Henninger Park and the Sachsenhausen district, the design concept focuses on creating a multi-level, three-dimensional urban structure. This approach offers a variety of spaces tailored to different functions, whether for learning or play, indoors or out.
The rooftop is designed as an outdoor playground, maximizing the use of space. The project features two highly insulated independent floors that accommodate various activities. Beyond traditional classrooms and studios, the design embraces openness and flexibility, allowing for customizable floor layouts and ceiling heights to encourage children’s interaction and play. Every inch of the kindergarten becomes a lively playground!
Inside, a central corridor connects multiple covered walkways, encouraging movement throughout the building. These corridors and the adjoining stairs are primarily constructed from exposed concrete, creating a natural transition from outside to inside. Positioned north and south, the corridors face a large garden. The prominent arcade shades the space from direct sunlight, preventing indoor overheating during summer and shielding the indoor-outdoor flow from wind and rain.
The bright children’s activity room opens directly to these corridors and is flooded with natural light. The staff offices are situated at the northern end of the building.
The project’s structural design relies on a straightforward concrete framework. Staggered floors, walls, supports, and stairs are all crafted from natural concrete, forming the building’s core. Depending on functional needs, soundproof panels, wall coverings, tiles, and custom furniture are integrated. Material and color choices are carefully coordinated to complement the concrete elements, especially the exposed concrete walls, which receive subtle color accents.
The layered concrete facade is a standout feature, incorporating high-performance insulation materials between the layers. Facing a long corridor to the north, the exterior appears more enclosed, with only the ground floor play area visible through a glass curtain wall. Balconies and arcades are equipped with stainless steel safety nets for added protection.
The building consists primarily of two main floors plus a rooftop area. This layout accommodates three groups of infants (0-3 years), three groups of toddlers (3-6 years), and two groups of older children (6-10 years), totaling 142 children. This new kindergarten not only serves the immediate residential community but also supports families throughout the wider urban area.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Section 1
△ Section 2
△ Functional Zoning Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Meixner Schlüter Wendt
Area: 2,700 square meters
Year of Completion: 2021
Photographer: Christoph Kraneburg
Manufacturers: Caparol, Carl Stahl, HERAKLITH, Meralux, Roma, VMZINC
Partners: Claudia Meixner, Florian Schlüter
Lead Architect: Georg Kratzenstein
Architects: Emanuel Giessen, Dorothée Wilhelmi
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
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