Rarely is daylight used so consistently in multi-storey residential construction as in this renovation project, whose radicality only becomes apparent when looking inside. With great artistry, the architects have taken on an apartment building that had no façade openings on the south side.

Externally, the renovation is characterized by understatement. It reinforces the historical qualities of the stock instead of concealing them. Inside, only a few additional skylights create diverse and surprising lighting situations. The building openings themselves remain hidden from view – the focus of the concept is on indirect light and grazing light, which cleverly stages the spatial contours.

Vertical connections across several levels make the apartments appear larger than they actually are. Again and again, wall and ceiling openings open visual axes even in unusual places and arouse curiosity about the origin of daylight.

Form, construction, space and light – all the essential elements of architecture come together in this kindergarten to create a skilfully playful synthesis that fits perfectly with the task of building for children. With its polygonal shape and stepped façade surfaces, the new building deviates pleasantly from the blockiness of many contemporary wooden buildings.

The symmetry of the floor plans and the asymmetrically shaped, tent-like roof form an exciting contrast. The architects have consistently taken on the "fifth façade" and at the same time the most important light source of the house. The circular daylight openings and the complementary electric luminaires form an atmospheric planetary sky above the open play and movement rooms on the ground floor and the more intimate retreat areas on the upper level.

The rooms look spacious, at the same time convey a sense of security and are therefore child-friendly in the best sense of the word.

Even with a few daylight openings, great effects can be created – the community center in Laatzen near Hanover proves it. With its red brick shell, the building sets a self-confident, contemporary accent, but very suitable for the location in the village center.

Inside, the building surprises with an openness and generous natural lighting that you would not expect at first glance. The almost sacral lighting effect in the hall is created by a room-in-room concept that does not require any closed surfaces. Instead, the architects work with multi-layered intermediate areas graded in their brightness.

The white wall panels under the skylight strip channel the light and scatter it into the room at the same time. In direct sunlight, they create varied plays of light and shadow, in diffuse light a pleasant basic brightness, which finds its logical counterpart in the large views of the outdoors on the opposite side of the facade.