Wonderforest Nature Preschool
Abstracted nature elements and a layered experience create an exciting place for learning and play
The Wonderforest inhabits a glassy storefront space in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The façade provides opportunities for natural light, visual connection, and varying levels of privacy. The architectural approach was to layer the spaces along the storefront to create pockets of privacy and activity. The most public layer lies next to the glass and contains the welcome area, The Forest, and The Wetland. The open-play spaces take advantage of the natural light and create an inviting image for pedestrians in the neighborhood. Interior sectional changes and plantings provide privacy and safety for the children and foster exploration. The most private layer contains the classrooms and support spaces. These areas receive borrowed light by way of acoustic interior windows. The window design allows a teacher to oversee the children from the corridor but prevents children from exterior distractions or visibility from the street.
A Layered Experience
Between the public and private layers lies an intermediate space that serves as circulation and gallery. It connects a variety of distinct play environments and defines the edges of the classrooms. Inspired by natural principles and water flow, the meandering path begins at the welcome area and traces the perimeter of The Forest. Above the walkway is an undulating ceiling accented by a cove light that swoops upward as it transitions into The Greenhouse. This section is narrow and defined by tall windows with a dense layer of plantings. The plants provide an educational experience where children care for various species and observe their growth. The path then bends and descends, encircling The Wetland.
Abstracted Nature
The project strives to unite the principles of a forest school with the constraints of the built environment. A key strategy was to provide an abstracted nature that reflects the palette and textures of nature through simplified biophilic forms. The children learn by interacting with water, trees, dirt, and landscape. The primary play areas were designed to provide the same range of experience found in the park. The Forest play area is an expansive open space with a rolling hillside and abstracted tree forms. Artificial grass made of recycled materials covers the hillside, and sustainably harvested lumber makes up the trees. Small, suspended LED lights and swings add a sense of wonder as children are encouraged to express themselves and gain greater spatial awareness through changes in topography and material. In contrast, The Wetland is a durable, wet space that encourages children to get messy and immerse themselves in tactile play and sensory exploration. A child-sized water table and mud kitchen mirror the experience of being in the park pond, where children learn about buoyancy, dynamics, and creativity.
- Location Prospect Heights | Brooklyn, New York
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Client
Brooklyn Nature Days
Wonderforest Nature Preschool -
Collaborators
MEP | Basic Groups Consulting Corp
Builder | Nucor Construction Corp
- Size 3,600sf
- Status Completion | 2022
- Photographer Pavel Bendov
