BASE worked on a series of five childcare centers located in San Francisco in collaboration with the Low Impact Investment Fund (LIIF) and Scientific Art Studio (SAS). This series of five sites consist of two family care centers (FCC), and 3  childcare/preschool centers (CC): SuperKids (FCC), Pasitos (FCC), Family Connections (CC), Friends of St Francis (CC) and Mission Kids Preschool (CC). 

 

The mission of each of these projects was to transform the existing centers, which were filled with plastic play equipment, concrete paving throughout, and little natural elements, into spaces that connect children to nature, utilizing only natural materials and engaging discovery, curiosity, and exploration. The target age group was 1 to 5 years of age, so special consideration was taken to create a balance between safety and challenging play. 

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BASE took some time to really sit with each of the sites, connecting to their individual genius loci to create different themes for each site. Some of the natural themes included were birds and their habitats, land fertility, water and flow, ecological corridor, and natural sounds/music. Some of the play elements included in the design were: mud kitchens, bug hotels, natural huts, wooden slides, log climbers, and stump walls. In collaboration with SAS, BASE had the unique opportunity to assist in the fabrication of the bug hotels proposed for the sites. 

 

As part of these projects, BASE also lead a series of community build days in collaboration with Rebuilding Together SF, where we built out some of the elements for the sites including: the stump wall, wooden amphitheater, raised planters, and the stump/log edging for a pathway. 

 

We were very excited to be a part of such a great team of designers, thinkers, and stakeholders who are all passionate about transforming these sites into creative and playful natural environments for the children who need it the most. Each of the centers is now an oasis of nature, acting as a refuge from the urban fabric that is San Francisco. 

 

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