The Children’s House is a building dedicated to children inside the new Culture Block in Rijeka, Croatia. The construction is part of an urban requalification of a former industrial complex under the European Capital of Culture 2020 project. The new complex houses various cultural institutions: the City Museum, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the City Library, and the Children’s House.

Centrally located, the building is conceived as an entrance to these institutions, and as a symbolic entrance to the world of culture for children up to the age of 12.

Additionally, the building is used by the neighbouring institutions, including the Art Cinema and the Puppet Theatre, for both performances and educational activities. Children are not just spectators within the building, but are also performers and producers.

The building is organized as a box inserted within the original brick walls. The existing walls are reinforced with concrete, and the new concrete box is supported by steel beams and existing cast iron columns. Space between the two walls is used for staircases, which encircle the box in a clockwise direction. Individual rooms are accessed from this architectural promenade, giving each room its own feel and use.

The ground floor is Culture Block’s living room. The first floor has a small gallery, connected by the original steel bridge to the Museum of Modern and the Contemporary Art Building. The small gallery also serves as a large backstage. Next to this room is the two-storey theatre/cinema auditorium with 75-90 seats. Projection and direction rooms are connected with an audio and video lab on the second floor, enabling recording and editing of the material. The third floor is used entirely by the City Library childrens’ department. The space on the roof terrace is used for workshops and sensory theatre.