Daycare Center Birkenhard, Warthausen, Germany

Daycare Center Birkenhard

In Birkenhard, part of the rural municipality of Warthausen in southern Germany, a two-story daycare center was built as a solid construction with wooden facades. The climate and energy concept developed focuses on high energy efficiency and minimal use of technology.

Fresh air is supplied by a mechanical basic ventilation system in combination with shock ventilation through operable windows. The basic ventilation brings fresh air into the shared sleeping room and then flows into the playrooms and finally into the corridor areas, from where it is extracted with heat recovery. This cascade principle prevents the ventilation system from being oversized and at the same time ensures good air quality.

Underfloor heating warms the rooms in winter and can cool them in summer. The operable windows make night flushing possible and, in combination with a thermal mass, ensures good summer comfort. The overhangs and external solar shading reduce the solar load in summer. Generous windows offer a beautiful view of nature and the inner courtyard as well as good daylight quality.

Heating and cooling are provided by a reversible air source heat pump. The roof is covered with photovoltaic panels and generates renewable electricity for the daycare center.