This report documents the MA4-ARK16 Master Thesis project of Ida-Katrine Arend Grün Hansen, group 16. The project proposes a sustainable kindergarten placed in Overby Bakke, a new developing area of Aalborg municipality, placed in Stae. The city of Stae currently houses about 400 citizens. Additionally, 37 single-family houses as well as 16 senior houses are planned to be built as what is to be Overby Bakke.

As a result of the integrated design process the kindergarten is evolving around both architectural- and engineering methods. The architecture is designed through theory of affordances which promote child development, with the mindset of ensuring child lead play. Furthermore, the building focuses on sustainable strategies ensuring a healthy indoor environment for the occupants, considering the life cycle of the building, and decreases energy consumption as well as CO2 emissions, while improving the architectural value of the space, ensuring integrated design.
The building unifies the children, Overby Bakke’s local community, sustainability, and farming as one entity.

Institutions are one of Denmark’s most expensive buildings to construct and operate. At the same time studies shows more than 50% of buildings are unoccupied during occupied hours – why it is crucial to consider both efficient construction methods as well as implementing solutions to improve the operation and occupation schedule of the building.
The outcome of the project resulted in a zero-energy building, achieved by passive and active strategies, which is justified in sustaining the everyday life of a kindergarten for both primary and secondary users. Design decisions are justified through a holistic approach of theory and investigations of architectural quality, wellbeing, user comfort and sustainability.

The documentation of Overby Bakke kindergarten is based on the integrated design process, divided into three sections. First the problem- and analysis phase which creates the foundation of the project through research and field study. Second, the sketching- and synthesis phase documenting the design process. Lastly, the presentation phase which is based on the prior phases.