Internal Spaces for Children

Ballindereen Community Childcare and Education Centre, Ballinderreen, County Galway.

Design features

• Overall area provides a rich variety of spaces, including the main double-height space, a window seat or cubby space, and a loft area (The photo is taken from the loft area looking down into the children’s space).
• Good levels of natural light with clear visual contrast between the floor and walls.
• Domestic style stairs provide a home-like setting and an opportunity to develop gross motor skills, balance, and climbing skills.

Design tip

• Fewer visual displays would ensure calmer visual space.
• A lower handrail set between 600-750mm would benefit children and people of smaller stature.
• The handrail should extend 300mm past the last step. In this scenario a newel post or similar upright would have to be installed at the end of the handrail to ensure that people do not collide with the extended handrail.