Creating environments that support and enhance the educational experiences of children has long been a passion for Mailen Design. Our recent project, Forest Weave Kindergarten (Metsakudujad Lasteaed), allowed our team to apply our collaborative and sustainable design approach to an inspiring new educational setting.
Shortlisted among the top entries in a prestigious international design competition, Forest Weave Kindergarten underscores our dedication to innovative, community-centred education design. Our team worked tirelessly over several months, collaborating on every detail to bring this unique concept to life.
From the outset, we embraced the challenge of creating a design that integrates seamlessly with its natural surroundings whilst celebrating the power of community. The result is a project we are immensely proud of, reflecting our vision of sustainable, child-centred educational spaces.
INTEGRATING WITH NATURE AND COMMUNITY
Situated in a verdant parkland setting, Forest Weave Kindergarten was designed to celebrate and integrate with its surrounding landscape. The design places a restored ex-director’s villa at the heart of the site, which not only serves as the kindergarten's central hub but also anchors a broader community-focused masterplan. This villa provides both kindergarten accommodation on the ground floor and community facilities on the upper levels, further enriching the site's multi-functional character.
The new entrance to the kindergarten has been thoughtfully crafted as a public square, which enhances the setting for the villa and establishes a natural gathering point. This square is surrounded by various community amenities, encouraging connections with the wider landscape. As visitors enter, they’re welcomed into a courtyard created by the main entrance block, which is framed by nursery rooms at ground level. Arranged around a mature pear tree, this courtyard forms a protected outdoor space where children and parents can navigate safely to individual rooms and corridors, fostering a sense of openness and interaction within a controlled, secure environment.
Much like the original cotton factory that once operated nearby, weaving together cotton threads, Forest Weave interlaces the kindergarten with surrounding community spaces. This design distributes the building volumes throughout the park, respecting mature trees whilst linking diverse facilities—from nursery spaces to pavilions that encourage intergenerational engagement. The layout thoughtfully accommodates different age groups, fostering a nurturing environment where both young children and elderly members of the community can connect and share experiences, celebrating the natural landscape that ties the site together.
A PLAYFUL DESIGN WITH A PURPOSE
Forest Weave’s architecture features pitched roofs and chimneys that echo the local vernacular with a playful twist, establishing a “mini village” of salmon-red zinc roofs and timber cladding. The volumes create familiar forms that feel rooted in the area’s history, whilst adding a sense of whimsy. Set back behind vertical timber columns, the ground floor nursery rooms have continuous floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing natural light to fill the spaces and providing direct access to a series of external play areas made from natural elements.
Inside, the tall pitched roofs give a sense of openness, with windows positioned to enhance creativity and encourage exploration. The layout allows children to transition easily between indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering a “forest school” environment. A series of broad steps from the first floor lead into the main garden, connecting back to the entrance courtyard via an external staircase, and allowing children to move seamlessly throughout the site. Through this thoughtful design, the kindergarten supports an immersive, nature-centred experience that encourages creative learning.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Our approach to Forest Weave’s overall net zero design prioritised environmental sustainability by incorporating green roofs, rainwater collection systems, and extensive solar technology. The layout optimises natural daylight, with nursery rooms positioned along a south-east to south-west arc for optimal solar gain. Overhanging roofs on the ground level provide shading, whilst breaking up the first-floor volumes enhances both natural ventilation and daylight access from multiple angles.
The green and pitched metal roofs enable effective rainwater collection, whilst the main hall’s Roofit solar standing seam system reduces the project’s energy demand with renewable power. Heat recovery ventilation systems within the chimneys facilitate natural airflow through the ground-floor spaces, supporting the building’s net-zero ambitions.
For construction, we proposed the use of prefabricated laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, which reduce embodied carbon, waste, and on-site disruption. Timber jointing techniques, inspired by Japanese craftsmanship, rely on dowel joints instead of adhesives or metal connections, further lowering the carbon footprint. With these design choices, Forest Weave not only creates a healthier, more engaging environment for children but also minimises its environmental impact.
PAST WORK IN EDUCATIONAL SPACES
Mailen Design’s dedication to crafting inspiring educational spaces is evident in our previous projects within this sector. For Meadows Nursery, we transformed a greenfield site into a purpose-built nursery that connects children to the surrounding Northumberland landscape. With natural materials and ecological enhancements, Meadows Nursery reflects our commitment to sustainable design in sensitive rural contexts. Similarly, our shortlisted design for The Old Vic Annexe in London reimagined a historic theatre extension, incorporating open, democratic spaces that serve as a bridge between arts, education, and community life. Both projects underscore our ability to integrate sustainable practices with the unique needs of educational spaces, creating environments that foster learning and enhanced well-being.
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATIONAL DESIGN
As we continue to explore opportunities within the education sector, we view Forest Weave Kindergarten as a testament to our ethos of collaboration and innovation. The future of educational architecture lies in spaces that inspire children, support their development, and connect them with nature and community. We’re committed to understanding the unique needs of each project, and we bring them to life through thoughtful, sustainable design.
If you're interested in creating impactful educational spaces, we invite you to reach out. Our team would be happy to begin a conversation exploring how we can bring your vision to life.