A striking hexagonal wooden structure that merges the form of a hollow ancient oak with a small red house has been completed at Värsnäs Preschool in Kalmar, Sweden. Designed by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA), the 6.5-meter-tall Oak House rises like an oversized woodland character that appears both familiar and slightly surreal to visitors.
The unique installation stands at the edge of the new Snurrom district, where the developing neighborhood meets the protected oak forests of the Värsnäs nature reserve. Children can enter the structure through a low opening at the base of the trunk-like form, where natural light filters down from above through thick, branch-like volumes. The interior serves as both a storage space for outdoor equipment and an educational environment, containing natural specimens for exploration and framed illustrations that reveal the hidden world of insects, birds, and fungi that inhabit oak trees.
The location was specifically chosen to complement the surrounding landscape, which features approximately fifty ancient oaks that tower like sculptural giants shaped by centuries of time, weather, and natural growth. These majestic trees, with their almost fairytale-like presence, served as the primary inspiration for what became a two-part sculptural artwork consisting of the outdoor Oak House (Ekstugan) and an indoor companion piece called Oak Place (Ekplatsen).
Inside the preschool building, Ulf Mejergren Architects extended the concept with Oak Place, an indoor installation shaped like a generous tree stump that functions as both furniture and a distinct space. The indoor piece echoes the form of the outdoor Oak House while being adapted for interior use, featuring end-grain oak floors and wide oak boards on the walls that create a warm, tactile atmosphere. This versatile structure can easily transform to serve multiple functions, operating as a reading corner, workspace, exhibition surface, or small performance stage.
The design creates a visual connection between the indoor and outdoor elements, as children can look out toward the Oak House from the Oak Place, linking the two installations into one cohesive artistic gesture. Together, the Oak House and Oak Place create a continuous experience that seamlessly blends elements of play, nature education, and architecture, encouraging children to explore and learn in both outdoor and indoor environments while allowing the oak tree motif to shape the preschool's educational identity and character.
