St Kinga’s Nursery School, Szerencs

The former Catholic parish house has the floor plan and architectural form of a manor house; in the post-war period, extensions were added and its porch was glazed in. The four-group nursery school was created by demolishing the parts of no architectural value and extending the building. The old presbytery houses the community room and gym, the offices and the service areas. The hall, which also serves as the main entrance foyer, is connected to the originally open veranda, and it is from here that the changing room corridor leading to the four activity rooms begins.

Adjoining the old building is a section of similar character, which houses the activity rooms arranged in a semicircle. Alongside the building, which is reminiscent of traditional manor house architecture, a glazed veranda designed in a contemporary style encompasses the hall and the changing room corridor. Connected to the latter are the domed pavilions housing the speech therapy and developmental therapy rooms.

By setting back and rebuilding the existing stone wall, we were able to accommodate the car parks and a pavement of suitable width whilst utilising a relatively small area. The layout of the garden paths and features, together with the landscape design, creates a sophisticated, child-friendly and practical garden. The overall architectural and landscape composition is intended to continue the character of the former manor house in this traditional small-town centre, whilst adapting it to its current function.