Nursery is a children’s facility currently under development in a large, enclosed courtyard in Brussels. The project addresses the challenge of introducing a new public program into a residential fabric without compromising the quality, privacy, or openness of the site.
The architectural strategy is to designa half-buried structure, entirely topped with a green roof. By blending into the landscape, the building dissolves visually and functionally into its natural surroundings, giving the impression of a landscaped garden rather than a standalone construction.This approach ensures the project’s full usability while preserving the courtyard’s openness and minimising its visual impact. The architecture becomes an extension of the green space, fostering a seamless relationship between children’s daily activities and the natural environment.
With limited operational hours and a quiet program, the nursery is inherently suited to its context. Its design furthers this compatibility by creating blurred boundaries between interior and exterior, where nature is not a backdrop but an active participant in the experience of the space. The project redefines the children’s facility as a landscape intervention rather than a building.
