PROBLEMS OF FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANNING RESTORATION OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The report examines the problems and prospects of restoring the original function of the buildings of former kindergartens (preschool education institutions), which are now used for other purposes, in residential areas of large and largest cities. The need for functional restoration of objects is substantiated. It has been established that the functional and architectural-planning restoration of the buildings of former kindergartens, which are not used for their intended purpose, in the existing socio-economic conditions of Ukraine, is the optimal way to ensure the required number of places in preschool and primary school education institutions. The actual functional use of buildings of former kindergartens is studied and analyzed. A field survey of nine microdistricts of "Saltivka" – the largest residential area of the city of Kharkiv – revealed that as of the fall of 2021, almost 47% of kindergarten buildings are not being used for their intended purpose. At the same time, a significant part of the buildings has been transformed into administrative institutions and production enterprises, a large number of objects are multifunctional. And only a small number of buildings have institutions intended for children (child development centers, dance studios, sports schools). The attitude of society to the issue of functional restoration of preschool education institutions on the basis of existing buildings is investigated. The main architectural-building and socio-economic problems of functional and architectural-planning restoration of existing buildings on the way of their transformation into modern preschool education institutions are revealed. According to the results of a survey of the local population, the vast majority of those interviewed – 62% – consider it expedient to restore the original function of kindergarten buildings, which are currently not being used for their intended purpose. To restore the original function of kindergarten buildings, which are currently not being used for their intended purpose, it is necessary to solve a number of problems in architectural and construction, socio-economic and other fields, which include: 1) justification of the need for additional places in preschool education institutions; 2) determination of sources of funding for the functional and planning restoration of children's preschool institutions; 3) determining the new location of objects and institutions located in the buildings of former kindergartens; 4) ensuring inclusiveness of the educational process; 5) safety of stay in a children's preschool (shelter equipment). The most rational is the functional restoration of the buildings of former kindergartens, which now house production enterprises, administrative institutions, or those where several different functions, not intended for children, are grouped together.