Room to Grow
With school back in session, we're reflecting on the spaces that shape and support future generations.
Issue No. 8
IN THIS ISSUE
BUILDING: Fuji Kindergarten—Tezuka Architects
READING: “No country for young families”—Jerusalem Demsas (The Argument)
WORKING: Bye, Henry!—Back to School for Our Summer Intern
BUILDING
Fuji Kindergarten
Tezuka Architects
BY: TARO MATSUNO
Sometimes I feel defensive about how much I love this project. It’s simple form allows you to immediately grasp the main idea, but despite its iconic diagram, it’s not the cheap flashy shape-making of a Bjarke Ingels Group.
Tezuka Architects layers the simplicity of the donut form with sensitivity to the interior life of the child, and their need both for safety and independence. Their design for this Montessori-style kindergarten allows for quiet working time, rambunctious play, and many subtle gradations in between.
At its core, the building is about community - as architect Takaharu Tezuka said in an interview with Dezeen, “"Because the building is a ring they are looking at each other. There is no sense of a middle. The children learn to be fair to everybody, they learn how to be a part of a nice group."
READING
“No country for young families”
Jerusalem Demsas (The Argument)
BY: TARO MATSUNO
I’m not the most ideal messenger for this as my two girls were tearing up the local Harris Teeter this week, but amidst all the discourse about birth rates, natalism, child-free weddings, and people who dislike kids, that there are also explicit forms of discrimination in one of my favorite topics - housing.
Jerusalem Demsas in The Argument shows how age-restricted affordable housing for seniors are often an easier sell to communities because of the noise, the inconvenience, even the danger people imagine from children, especially those from families with low incomes. And that’s before the arguments against new housing that I’ve heard in public hearings about the schools being too full, about not wanting to pay property taxes to support public education, or that high rents and mortgages are the entry fee you need to earn to be a part of our community.
The truth is that large swaths of Virginia are losing population while we are one of the fortunate communities where young families see opportunity and can imagine a future for themselves and for their children. We should extend a welcome to public housing, affordable housing, and market-rate housing which offers a chance for more children to grow up along side us.
WORKING
Bye, Henry!
Back to School for Our Summer Intern
BY: CANDACE CABRAL
This summer, we were delighted to host Henry Simmons, a rising sophomore at Western Albemarle High School, in our studio for an immersive week-long internship exploring his interests in a career in architecture.
Over the course of the week, Henry engaged with the practice of architecture from multiple perspectives. By shadowing our architects as well as our structural and civil engineering partners in the field, he gained a deeper appreciation for the many disciplines that shape the built environment. He also met with nearly every member of our team in the office—from our Principals to designers to administrative staff—to learn about the the day-to-day operations of a firm like BRW.
Working closely with Senior Designer David Timmerman, AIA, Henry embarked on a design exercise of his own: developing a concept for a multi-story tower in downtown Charlottesville. Through sketching, modeling, and daily design discussions, he experienced the various phases of architectural design firsthand. At the conclusion of his internship, Henry presented his work to the full team, demonstrating creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm for design.
We were truly impressed by what Henry accomplished in such a short time with us. We look forward to seeing where his interests lead and wish him the very best as he begins his sophomore year!