HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no Shiro worked together to create the SDJ Nursery with room for nature and play in Tokyo, Japan.

In today’s society, children tend to be cut off from the local community due to the decline in local communities caused by the increasing number of nuclear families and the declining birthrate, and the excessive security of urban nurseries, which often results in the loss of learning opportunities for children such as “independence” and “individuality” that are originally fostered through contact with the community.

As described in approaches such as citizenship education (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Policy) and ESD “Education for Sustainable Development” (Japan proposed and now UNICEF is leading the initiative), we believe that children’s practical experiences in their development, in which they are involved with many local people and their daily lives, will help them to grow in independence and individuality, and as citizens, they will help to build the society of the future.

The building maintains security as a nursery school, as well as open “community zones” (gallery, garden, large and small community spaces, and terrace) along the railroad tracks street.

Daily interactions take place, such as daily conversations between children and local residents in the open garden and terrace, a gallery displaying children’s works that local residents stop by, and daily activities in the community space. On the other hand, many local events have been held, such as concerts, plays, exhibitions, local festivals, and workshops with creators.

Children continue to grow up in an environment of diverse activities with local people and many opportunities to experience culture, with the “community as a field of learning”.

Design: HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no Shiro
Photography: Toshinari Soga | studio BAUHAUS