Children’s Home of the Future

The “Children's Home of the Future” is located in the Kerteminde region of Denmark on the east coast of the island of Funen. This is a pioneering project for an entirely new type of 24-hour care centre for disadvantaged children.

The brainchild of CEBRA, the renowned Aarhus-based Danish architectural firm, it combines the safe environment of a traditional home with new ideas and concepts of what a children’s home is and which needs it should meet.

The starting point for the design of the "Our House" project are the familiar basic shapes of the typical Danish home - the classic pitched roof and gable windows. On the one hand it expresses these shapes in a novel and playful way which gives the building a striking appearance while, at the same time, its architectural language signals a safe and cosy living environment.

The building comprises four interconnected houses. These not only reduce the building's overall size but also create varied, self-contained units for the different groups of resident. The shape is emphasised by the striking pitched roofs, window piercings and extensions which grow in and out of the individual sections. The spaces resulting from this concept are very flexible in terms of their layout, furnishings and use, depending on the needs and activities of the residents.

The close proximity of the various units means that staff can always be nearby and this also makes everyday work routines more efficient. The primary aim of this concept is to free up more time for care of the children and the creation of a place that feels more like a home and less like an institution.

The architects’ focus on natural building materials also contributes greatly to user satisfaction and well-being. For example, Troldtekt acoustic panels, made from natural wood and cement, are used throughout. Clearly, the need for pleasant acoustics was the key reason why these panels were specified for the ceilings.