Tahmela Daycare’s Microbe-Friendly Yard

Tahmela Daycare is located in Pispala, Tampere, near the nationally valuable cultural landscape of Pispalanrinne. The former daycare building on the site had to be closed due to indoor air problems, and it was replaced with a new two-story log-wood building. The microbe-friendly yard was developed in response to a city council initiative to pilot nature-based daycare environments in Tampere.

The yard is designed with nature-based solutions, using natural materials and planting diverse vegetation. Untreated wood is used extensively for play structures like balancing logs and climbing trees, as well as for edging sand and safety areas. Trees felled from the site are also reused in the yard structures. The amount of hard surfaces is kept to a minimum, with gravel and wood chips chosen instead of asphalt or concrete. As much of the existing tree cover as possible is preserved.

Natural materials and diverse planting enrich the yard’s biodiversity, offer children inspiring play opportunities, and support positive health effects.