In the context of a closed competition, in August 2018 an art concept for the day nursery in the community of Speicher near Trier was developed. Entitled Die 11chen (The Little Eleven), it consists of individual pictorial symbols for the eleven groups at the nursery, to provide identification for the children.
18-17-010
18-17-011
in a mural
at the entrance
to the building
18-17-012
to the doors
18-17-013
to the doors
18-17-014
to the T-shirts
18-17-015
Each of the eleven groups at the nursery in Speicher is a home for the children. They feel they belong here. The mural at the entrance receives them in this spirit with a welcoming sign and also with a signpost: the 11chen give a symbol to each group and thus lend each group its autonomy. At the same time they provide a symbol for the community of all groups. This means that all of the children have a home, but all belong together, too. The children recognise their group’s symbol by means of three parameters: by the shape, the colour and the position in the circle of 11chen. The function of recognition is not, however, the whole story. The vocabulary of form, colouring and circular movement address the children on an emotional level and stimulate their imagination. They will like coming to the 11chen.
The 11chen constitute a mural that has an external effect, outwards into the public space. The parents, above all, who bring and collect their children will repeatedly be presented with the image of a nursery that gives the children a place in eleven groups where they feel at home and can develop. The 11chen breathe life into the groups.
Inside the building, the 11chen continue in their function of showing the way. The children find their familiar symbol on the doors of their group. This completes their identification with the group. Thus the doors leading to the group rooms project the feeling of belonging. The children very quickly realise that they can find their way in the building. Orientation is the first prerequisite of feeling at home. On the doors, the children find all the characteristics of the familiar symbol: the shape, the colour and the position derived from the circular arrangement. In this sense the art concept provides individualisation of the building and makes it more habitable.