The Fuji Kindergarten (Ring Around the Tree School), Japan

Located in the Tokyo suburb of Tachikawa, its appearance is distinctly Japanese. Its design has taken its influences from the culture of the Japanese people. The school’s ‘forward thinking’ headmaster, Mr Sekiichi Kato asked Japanese architects Takahuru and Yui Tezuka, to create the Kindergarten. 

In the centre of its circular structure stands a magnificent  Zelkova tree, which lends the school its name. Standing for over 50 years, this tree is hugely symbolic to the local people, been climbed by local children for five decades, as well as surviving a typhoon. The husband and wife design team constructed a circular climbing frame around the tree, which allowed the children to engage with the tree while they play, providing a stimulating enclave for learning and play. Its design is organic, crafted and modernist, with a strong Scandinavian influence. Its use of natural wood and glass show that nature has been embraced and celebrated in the design. The way in which they approached the design was most likely influenced by the fact that Takahharu and Yui Tezuka are parents to young children; giving them a personal insight in what they felt was needed in creating a learning environment. It is apparent that culture has had a greater effect on this design due to the importance of symbols in Japanese society. Culture has affected almost every aspect of the design process. From its original inspiration, 'the legend of Buddha preaching under a linden tree’, the material choice and layout that enhance its teaching style, to the climbing frame which allows interaction with nature and incorporating the Zelkova tree, the Japanese tree of knowledge.

The building consists of a large single story oval, the school is set around an inner courtyard used for play and teaching.  This design allows for the children to view and interact with the surroundings beyond the school site, thanks to the addition of a roof deck. This use of the flat roofing allows the opportunity for further play and, in particular, promotes exploration of their environment, which is another similarity shared with Los Cachimanes Primary school. The classrooms are located on the ground level. With natural timber flooring and white ceilings the design is minimal and functional. A sense of freedom, openness and light was created with a wall of glass looking onto the central courtyard. This effect is also mimicked in the classrooms layouts. With no fixed partitions classes are able to interact. “With no hidden rooms, children will automatically adopt socially acceptable behaviour pattern”.

The school design was affected, and aided the school’s approach to teaching, Montessori. It encourages independence, freedom and respect of a child’s natural development. It is clear from this case study, that creating an environment that allows for interaction, exploration and play, has a positive effect on social development as well as encouraging skills, such as curiosity and creativity through play and interacting with other students.