Fawood Children's Centre

Last year, many things brought me joy, but the visit to the kindergarten in the London slum by architect Will Alsop was the most special - the most natural environment for children I have ever seen. Everyone loves the building - the children, teachers, and the local community of Somali immigrants ... as the only object in the area, it remains untouched by crime, graffiti, and no one dares to damage it. True social architecture.

The kindergarten by Will Alsop is located in the northwest of London in one of the poorest parts of the city, locally nicknamed “the West Bronx of London.” In the antisocial environment of grey panel buildings, only crime seems to thrive. With a very limited budget, which could only buy a 3-bedroom apartment in central London, a kindergarten was created that does not resemble anything in the vicinity or other educational institutions in Britain.
“With a small budget, we had to expand our imagination,” says Alsop. “We decided to buy the largest, cheapest, and sturdiest structure we could find, which were standard frame constructions made for agricultural buildings. This allowed us to cover as much area as possible - actually the entire lot - for very little money. The remaining funds were then used to create spaces that would support children's imagination. They already think they are at sea when they play inside shipping containers; they love listening to stories inside a Mongolian yurt, which is a much cozier and more magical place than any traditional classroom could ever become. Regular kindergartens suffer from what I call the bungalow burnout syndrome, which seems designed to suppress children's imagination.”
Under one roof, there is a classic kindergarten for children aged 3-5, facilities for autistic children and those requiring special care, a children's center, and adult education services. The free space under a roof that resembles the shape and colors of Russian or Chinese state circuses allowed for arbitrary composition of the program. Between the three main volumes made up of stacked shipping crates, there was enough space for a playground and climbing structures. The recycled containers were painted in cheerful colors, windows were cut into them (one at children's eye level, another at adult height, and the third as upper lighting), they were equipped with underfloor heating, balconies were designed for them, and they were interconnected with walkways, an elevator, and a steel staircase. Outdoor climbing structures are still sheltered under the giant roof, which corresponds to the climate of perpetually rainy London, allowing children to play outside regardless of the weather.
“The choice of built structure and adapted internal environment allowed us a very quick assembly,” says Alsop. “It also allows for quick and inexpensive changes to the internal layout anytime in the future. The dark side of the project is the reality of the adult world surrounding the center. The mesh walls may look decorative, but they are actually there to protect children from dangerous people from the outside. And there’s no way to avoid the fact that Harlesden is a troubled area.”
Next year, the demolition of the ugly apartment buildings is planned, where a park will be created, which will be available to both the kindergarten children and the residents of the newly built apartments nearby. The footprint of the kindergarten plays an important role in shaping the entire future park.