German Kindergarten Designed as a Giant Cat
Kindergarten Die Katze
is a children’s school in Wolfartsweier near Karlsruhe, Germany built in the
adorable likeness of a giant, white cat. Designed by artist Tomi Ungerer and
architect Ayla-Suzan Yndel, the educational venue adds a dose of whimsy for
children to take delight in going to school. Each day, students are given the
opportunity to playfully enter through the mouth of the cat into the spirited
belly of the cuddly feline where the space is built to house 100 children.
The architectural design
choice has a level of quirkiness that befits a child’s sense of humor and
breadth of knowledge. The building is shaped to mimic a crouching kitty with
its ears upright, looking as though it is ready to pounce at any moment. The
circular windows at the front of the imaginative architecture serve as the
enormous cat’s eyes whereas the tail in the back is actually a slide. Inside
the kitty kindergarten, all of the usual amenities are present–classrooms,
coatrooms, a kitchen, dining room, and a main hall.
