1. Christian Lindharth CEBRA 2012
1
CEBRA a/s, arkitekter maa, Vesterbro Torv 1-3 2. sal, DK-8000 Aarhus C, T: +45 8730 3439, E: cebra@cebra.info, W: CEBRAarchitecture.dk
The world’s most advanced
centre of pedagogy and
children understanding is
a concrete tent in Abu Dhabi,
and it is designed by CEBRA
April 22 2014
At the architecture company CEBRA it has been a minor running joke to make Center for
Early Childhood Development the new TEDdy-talk, as it undoubtly will generate knowledge
worth spreading. But it is no joke. In collaboration with Yale University’s Child Study Center,
one of the worlds leading research centres on children and families, CEBRA has designed a
kindergarten, a research centre, a centre of education, a room for physical development – a
predecessor to future children institutions all gathered in one big concrete tent.
A big tent with sand dunes and super trees
Center for Early Childhood Development is a spectacular creation with pointy roof mounds, a
tent-like external design in wavy shapes and three tree-inspired wind towers rising up through
the pointy roof. Much influenced by the culture and nature of Abu Dhabi the 7,500 m2 large
centre endeavours to stand out in a city, where a lot of international architecture impacts the
city. The developer of the project is the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahayan Foundation, a
philanthropic foundation that focuses on education, health and arts and culture heritage
projects. They sought out to find a modern design embracing the original culture of the
Emirates. The result is a two levelled building inspired by the khaimah tents with curves in
different depths, topped with a smooth sand dunes-like roof perforated by three giant steel
trees, ventilating inside the concrete building. The exterior of the building is coated in mat
golden tobacco-like aluminium louvers. They double as covers for the windows right behind
them screening the sun some days reaching 50 degrees Celsius while their colour ensures a
subtle blend-in factor into the desert surrounding the modern city.

2. Christian Lindharth CEBRA 2012
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CEBRA a/s, arkitekter maa, Vesterbro Torv 1-3 2. sal, DK-8000 Aarhus C, T: +45 8730 3439, E: cebra@cebra.info, W: CEBRAarchitecture.dk
Center of world elite childhood research
But subtle is not necessarily the first word that comes to mind when entering the Center for
Early Childhood Development. Build in two levels each floor will respectively encompass
children and adults. This allows a natural divided flow between the functions that the centre
will contain. The ground level is dedicated to the children and will be ready to accommodate
almost 100 children who will range in the age three months to roughly five years. There will
be a kindergarten, a children toy and accessory shop, a creative workspace and a ‘play’ room
for the gross motor development of the children. The bottoms of the enormous steel trees
will act as indoor playgrounds along with other play functions designed by CEBRA and the
whole interior will be kept in a delicate simple design as children play and colours will fill up
the space by time.
The adult section is the one echoing in the world of children behaviour research. Run by
highly professionals it accommodates among other things research facilities, a large
auditorium, education for specialists and a knowledge centre doubling as a library for
parents. It will be a world elite benchmark for the world to follow in design and knowledge.
Direct inclusion
A variety of including rooms are incorporated in the ground floor in the Center for Early
Childhood Development. They are all designed to embrace each child with physical or
cognitive needs to develop alongside with the other kids.
CEBRA was invited to the competition because of the earlier kindergarten project Vonsild,
the Design Kindergarten, and won the project in Abu Dhabi against other architects last
spring. The architects at CEBRA look forward to the aspiring center and expect the building
to be ready for use in 2015.
Facts
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Client: Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation
Size: 7.500 m2
Architect: CEBRA
Consultant: Yale University Child Study Center
For more information please contact:
Christian Lindharth, communication assistant, T: +45 2868 5007 M: clin@cebra.info
For more information see CEBRA’s site
cebraarchitecture.dk/project/ecec/