Beyond Hans Christian Andersen

It's fun to be a kid at the innovative Day Care Center Skanderborggade. Because there's areal lack of outdoor space in this crowded part of Copenhagen, Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter transformed what would have been 8,600 square feet of unused roof space into a preschool playland. The multipurpose space features colorful rubber hills, a barbecue area, sandboxes, small cottages, and roadways for toy plastic motorbikes.

The way up to the playground is via a ramp covered in red granulated rubber and dotted with beanbag chairs, to which beach umbrellas can be attached for those taking a rest from the action. When the children put on skits, the ramp doubles as an amphitheater. Suspended beneath it, a set of swings gives little ones a refuge if weather is wet.

Dorte Mandrup-Poulsen's smart design continues inside. Zoning regulations stipulated that the new day-care facility be a only a single story, but the architect—a mother herself—addressed the space challenge with three cleverly organized rooms and three courtyards. When nap time comes, a special area is protected from street noise by tall, leafy trees.