Form Follows Climate: Sanctuary

The 21st century confronts architecture with an urgent responsibility: to design buildings that respond intelligently to climate, resource scarcity, and long‑term environmental impact. Form Follows Climate: Sanctuary explores how climate‑responsive architecture can be translated into a contemporary daycare facility that prioritizes efficiency, comfort, and ecological responsibility. Conceived as a learning environment for children, the project positions sustainability not as an added layer, but as the fundamental driver of form, structure, and materiality.

This project represents a forward‑looking architectural experiment—one that considers not only present needs but also the environmental conditions inherited by future generations.

Site Strategy and Urban Integration

Located on a compact urban plot surrounded by dense development, the daycare is conceived as a carefully calibrated architectural volume that maximizes site potential while minimizing environmental impact. Instead of fragmenting the program into multiple detached pavilions, the design consolidates functions into a single elongated structure. This decision significantly reduces the number of exterior walls, lowering heat loss and improving overall energy efficiency.

The building stretches from north to south, allowing optimal solar access while maintaining a strong spatial relationship with the surrounding urban fabric. Courtyards and voids punctuate the plan, introducing daylight, greenery, and natural ventilation deep into the interior.

Climate‑Responsive Form and Orientation

The architectural form is directly shaped by climatic logic. East‑ and west‑facing facades accommodate a high number of openings to ensure balanced daylight throughout the day, while the southern facade—receiving the most sunlight—becomes an active energy‑generating surface.

A defining feature of the project is the sawtooth roof system, oriented toward the south. This roof geometry integrates clerestory windows and solar panels, maximizing winter sunlight intake while supporting efficient ventilation through varying ceiling heights. The stepped roof profile enhances air circulation, allowing warm air to rise and escape naturally.

Material Strategy and Local Construction

In line with the principles of climate‑responsive architecture, material selection emphasizes local sourcing, low embodied energy, and long‑term performance. The building employs a timber frame construction system, deliberately avoiding excessive use of concrete.

Interior surfaces are finished with clay plaster, a natural material capable of absorbing and releasing moisture, thereby regulating indoor humidity levels. Insulation is made from wool rather than synthetic compounds, reinforcing the project’s commitment to non‑toxic, biodegradable materials.

Triple‑glazed windows with minimal thermal bridging ensure excellent insulation while allowing generous daylight penetration. These windows outperform conventional glazing systems by reducing heat loss without compromising solar gain.

Passive and Active Environmental Strategies

The project integrates a comprehensive set of passive and active strategies to achieve near self‑sufficiency:

• Passive daylighting: Large openings, roof windows, and internal voids distribute natural light across all floors.
• Natural ventilation: Operable windows, vertical voids, and corridor layouts enable cross‑ventilation throughout the building.
• Thermal regulation: Clay plaster, timber construction, and high‑performance insulation stabilize indoor temperatures.
• Solar energy production: Photovoltaic panels on the sawtooth roof provide renewable energy for daily operations.
• Green roofs: Flat roof sections are planted, improving insulation, managing rainwater naturally, and enhancing biodiversity.

Together, these strategies reduce dependency on mechanical systems and external energy sources, aligning the building with long‑term sustainability goals.

Interior Spatial Organization

Internally, the daycare is organized around clarity, accessibility, and comfort. Group rooms are aligned along naturally lit zones, with adjacent sleeping and sanitary spaces ensuring efficient circulation. Communal areas—such as learning spaces and performance rooms—are positioned to benefit from both daylight and visual connection to outdoor spaces.

Central voids act as social and environmental cores, bringing light and air through multiple levels while creating visual connectivity across the building. This spatial openness supports both pedagogical interaction and environmental performance.

Architecture for the Children of Tomorrow

Form Follows Climate: Sanctuary demonstrates how climate‑responsive architecture can shape meaningful educational spaces while addressing pressing environmental challenges. By merging form, function, and climate logic, the project creates a daycare environment that is efficient, healthy, and resilient.

Designed by Arno Laber, the project was a Shortlisted Entry of the Form Follows Climate 2020 competition. It stands as a thoughtful architectural response to climate responsibility—one that places future generations at the heart of sustainable design.

Project Credits

• Project Title: Form Follows Climate: Sanctuary
• Designer: Arno Laber
• Competition: Form Follows Climate 2020
• Status: Shortlisted Entry