Local architecture studio Archikon has successfully renovated and modernized the Gyöngyszem Kindergarten in Budapest, Hungary, transforming a neglected 1960s prefabricated structure into what they describe as a "playful and liveable" educational environment. The renovation features a pastel color palette, metal canopies, and furniture inspired by children's block games, creating an engaging atmosphere for young learners.
The kindergarten occupies one of several prefabricated community structures originally built along a tree-lined path in the 1960s as part of the Gyöngyösi Street estate. Archikon's comprehensive renovation involved updating four neglected blocks, adding an additional story, and replacing a dark connecting corridor with a series of glazed linking volumes designed for community activities. The project represents a significant transformation of mid-century educational infrastructure to meet contemporary sustainability and educational standards.
"The idea behind the renewal of the Gyöngyszem Kindergarten was to show that a prefabricated nursery can be transformed into an environmentally and energy-conscious, sustainable, playful, and liveable space," explained the studio. "The aim was to create a harmonious environment that takes sustainability and digital advancements into account, fostering a so-called 'smart kindergarten' – an institution that provides the latest tools for education and development."
The renovated facility features a striking entrance marked by a curved section of wall finished in colorful tiles, leading visitors into a reception hall organized around a sculptural curving staircase illuminated by natural light from a skylight above. Inside, a corridor running north to south connects each of the kindergarten's four blocks with three glazed linking volumes that maximize natural daylight penetration throughout the building.
These connecting spaces each feature a central staircase leading to mezzanines that overlook small courtyards and neighboring gardens through fully-glazed walls on either side. The communal areas incorporate colorful speckled floors, modular block-like furniture, and crawling tunnels beneath white steel staircases, creating playful environments that encourage interaction and exploration. Built-in timber storage for coats and bags adds practical functionality to these shared spaces.
Along the kindergarten's eastern edge, architects installed a white steel canopy system with fabric awnings that creates both a verandah on the ground level and balconies above. This design ensures that each of the ten classrooms has direct access to outdoor space, promoting indoor-outdoor learning opportunities. The western edge facing the street houses smaller rooms containing service and office areas, along with specialized development and activity rooms.
The exterior design emphasizes a cheerful, child-friendly aesthetic with pale pink render complemented by pastel green window frames, pale orange awnings, and yellow furniture in the garden areas. The furniture design was specifically informed by children's block games, reinforcing the playful educational philosophy throughout the facility. Skylights and full-height glazing work together to draw maximum natural light into interior spaces, creating bright and welcoming learning environments.
The Gyöngyszem Kindergarten project has gained recognition in the architectural community, recently earning a spot on the longlist in the education project category of Dezeen Awards 2025. This acknowledgment places it among other notable recent kindergarten projects featured in architectural publications, including Urbanitree's rammed-earth and timber African Flow School in Cameroon and the brightly colored, angular Větrník Kindergarten in the Czech Republic by Architektura.
The renovation demonstrates how mid-century prefabricated structures can be successfully adapted for contemporary use while incorporating modern sustainability practices and educational philosophies. By combining practical improvements with thoughtful design elements that appeal to children, Archikon has created a model for updating aging educational infrastructure that could inspire similar projects throughout Europe and beyond.
