WonderLAD, this is the name of the house, will be a place where children affected from serious illness and their families can perform the activities of a normal life, despite the disease and during the necessary periods of hospitalizations.

It will be erected in Catania on a ground of 12,000 square meters made available by the Municipality of Catania and it will cover a total area of ​900 square meters, plus a multipurpose space of 250 square meters.

Our Project Description

From time immemorial people believe in a fairy tree of life. Nowadays, the tree where the birds live and nests are, seems charming and magical. Therefore, we set a goal to make LAD PROJECT – a “fabulous nest” for seriously ill children – the place to feel cosiness and family comfort.

The most important idea of WonderLAD building is a creating space for living, where young patients can feel “at home”. The task is to draw children’s attention on communication with other children or with adults or with daily things or with the environment. To make the problem of disease not the major and the children are able to escape to other life “problem”: the fun games in the company of friends, to study singing or play musical instruments, to sports activities and the study of nature, painting, sculpture and still a large number of other activities that make life filled and happy.

The best form of such house which can combine all these functions is a house with a patio. The patio is “the soul of the house.” It is a versatile, interactive, and functionally rich. On one side the patio is a separate element, on the other side it is a part of the house. Here you can relax, play, act small street performances, celebrate birthdays and other holidays. It is open, but because of the small size, it is very cozy and comfortable.

There are three main parts of the house around the patio:

• one floor part with the entrance, reception office space, laboratory, kitchen and dining room;
• two floor part with the residences, the meeting room, nursery, soft room, library and studying room;
• two level part of the multipurpose space.

The patio has three outputs on a large adjacent area – “outside magical world.”

Through eastern exit you can reach the lawn around which is “fabulous ” forest. This is a place for group games and summer camp. Here you can place a tent and spend the night in the open air, dilute fire sitting beside it and telling compelling stories. On the lawn you can make daily morning exercises, organize meetings with guests and picnics. And during the organization of various events, especially useful will be the connection of this part of the site with multipurpose space and kitchen.

Through western exit you can go to the lawn with a “fabulous” garden around. This is a place for relaxation and walks. Since this part of the territory foresees and fosters individual sensibility and ability to dive into a microcosm, a lake will be very essential there. Water will bring vital power and children will be saturated with its energy. Garden also foresees care for the trees, looking after them during the year: flowering, fruit ripening. Windows of residences look out at this side, and when staying indoors one can continue to observe the life of the garden in the morning, evening, summer and winter.

South exit is at the same time the main entrance into the house. In this part placement of recreational activities area and recreational activities in protected environment are foreseen. In addition, this area has an active connection with the city. But due to the fact that parking area is hidden behind the trees, and the access road has soft and smooth contours, this connection is not as obtrusive. On the contrary, thanks to this solution, guests will get warm impression about WonderLAD.

Northern part of the area is also very important. This is a “fabulous” meadow. Here the wind is blowing, meadow grasses and flowers are growing. Here you can go down directly from the residences or the library, which are both on the second floor. This part is the most protected by building from the outside views. Children will feel themselves most at ease here, and can easily run by butterflies or lie down in the grass, watching the insects and plants.

To achieve the maximum level of comfort in the building, the project foresees a number of steps to improve its energy efficiency. One of these step is a compact form of construction. All functions are combined in common and enclosure volume. This will allow most easily and accurately design the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. For additional environmental energy, there is the ability to install solar collectors on the roof.

The structure of the house is from cross laminated timber. Walls, roof and floor of the first floor is securely insulated. It is used a suspended facade system with external finish from micro-laminated wood panels of different colors. In the finishing of residential part the panels are used with imitation of horizontal board of dark wood color. For the finishing of multipurpose space and patio panels with imitation of vertical boards of light wood color are used. A lot of wood in decoration creates a complete image of WonderLAD, and enhances the idea of a cozy home.