Chiselet Safehouse for children
A supportive space where vulnerable children receive food, clean clothes, hygiene access, school supplies, and a quiet place to study—so they can participate in school on equal terms andgrow with dignity and confidence.
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Chiselet, Romania. | ROM 001 | |
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900 mts.2 |  |
Started: November 1, 2024. |
| Phase | Ongoing. | Type | Safecare living. |
| Target Group | Children. | Partner | Nordic Office of Architecture. |
| Client | Human Kind. | Donor | . |
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1. Observe.
Why, context, challenge.
Education in Romania Various Challenges
In Romania, education is free, but many Romani children face barriers to full participation. Basic needs like food, clothing, hygiene, school supplies, and a quiet place to study are often unmet. Without these, it’s hard to concentrate, feel safe and included, and keep up in school—making education effectively out of reach for many marginalized Romani children.
Architecture For Health And Well-Being
By making the right design choices, architecture can support self-development, care, safety, belonging, inclusion and health. Focusing on these principles helps create environments that go beyond function to actively enhance well-being and quality of life. This is based on a knowledge-based study on the importance of physical surroundings in purpose-built Child Welfare Service buildings.
human:kind
human:kind is a micro-aid organization that helps children in Romania, specifically in a small village called Chiselet. Here, they support a children’s center that provides food, clothing, hygiene, and schooling for the children. The goal is to help them complete their education; it is their only hope for a way out of poverty. Most of these children would not have the opportunity to attend school without the help of the center. The children often come from very dysfunctional family situations and are exposed to severe neglect. Therefore, one of the most important things we can give the children is hope. The goal is to build a safe home for children living in insecurity.human:kind is politically and religiously independent, and have three main principles: “We must be transparent, we must make it easy to help,and 100% of what we collect must go to the cause.”
2. Identify.
Who, target, user, facts.
16
16 kids og 2 families can live in the place initially
100
60 kids can revceive food every day total a 100 people in the community can use the building for eating, studying or community events between
15
7 to 15 people can work in the safe house.
3. Approach.
How, strategy, interact
Children’s home or safe house for children facilities need to provide flexible and functionally robust environments that give a sense of security. To stimulate socialization and security, we are creating an optional level of social interaction and we are reflecting it in the floor plans.In this way, we create different ‘types’ of room areas that gradually provide opportunities for community exchange and interaction.
4. Design.
Programmering, development, co-create.
We believe in the design based in a structural grid system. This grid serves as the backbone of the building, ensuring consistency and adaptability.It allows us to organize spaces efficiently while maintaining structural integrity. By scaling up or down the design we can adapt to various urban or rural contexts and accommodate larger or smaller user groups, If that will be the case in the future. By this approach the core program remains intact. Common areas are designed to be open and inviting, promoting spontanious interaction and encouraging connection and collaboration. The building can evolve over time to meet changing needs. and reorganize.
UP-CYCLING LOCAL MATERIALS & USE OF WOOD
Upcycling by sourcing local materials reduces our carbon footprint, gives the chance to create new textures and enjoy conceive different colours.Wood as interior cladding will give a natural feel to the paces and is important part of creating an healing invironment. Prefab modules and or cladding can be used in this project.
FLEXIBEDROOMS
Flexibedrooms in a grid gives the possibillity of using them in different ways and change with time.
Who participate
Paola Bornaschella
Lillia Lugerin
Eli .
Camilo Calderon
Lucia .
Support an Ongoing Project.
Discover our current fundraising campaigns and get involved.
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