German Kindergarten Designed as a Giant Cat

Kindergarten Die Katze is a children's school in Wolfartsweier near Karlsruhe, Germany built in the adorable likeness of a giant, white cat. Designed by artist Tomi Ungerer and architect Ayla-Suzan Yndel, the educational venue adds a dose of whimsy for children to take delight in going to school. Each day, students are given the opportunity to playfully enter through the mouth of the cat into the spirited belly of the cuddly feline where the space is built to house 100 children.

The architectural design choice has a level of quirkiness that befits a child's sense of humor and breadth of knowledge. The building is shaped to mimic a crouching kitty with its ears upright, looking as though it is ready to pounce at any moment. The circular windows at the front of the imaginative architecture serve as the enormous cat's eyes whereas the tail in the back is actually a slide. Inside the kitty kindergarten, all of the usual amenities are present–classrooms, coatrooms, a kitchen, dining room, and a main hall.


Photo : Adriano Biondo

via [Lost at E Minor, Milk Magazine]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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