From Broken Fence to Strong Entrance: Designing and Rebuilding a Kindergarten Fence in Aceh Jaya

A while ago, I received a small but meaningful assignment from the local education office. They asked me to help with the design and rehabilitation of the fence at TK Negeri Pembina Calang, a kindergarten located in Calang, Aceh Jaya. At first glance it might look like a simple job, but projects like this always have their own story behind them.

For a kindergarten, the environment really matters. Children spend many hours there every day, so the place should feel safe and comfortable for them. Even something as simple as a fence can play an important role. It protects the school area, but it also becomes the first thing people see when they pass by.

In this project, I had the chance to be involved from the beginning until the work was completed. From visiting the site and planning the design to seeing the final result after construction. Watching a place slowly change and improve is always one of the most satisfying parts of my work.

The Initial Condition

Before starting any design work, the first thing I did was visit the site to see the actual condition of the fence. I walked around the school area and carefully observed each section. It was clear that the fence had already experienced a lot of wear and tear over the years.

Some parts of the wall had visible cracks, and the paint had faded and peeled off in many areas. The bright colors that once made the school look lively had turned dull because of the weather and time. In a few spots, the brick structure itself was also starting to weaken.

For a kindergarten, a fence in that condition was not ideal. Besides looking untidy, a damaged fence can reduce the sense of safety around the school. After seeing this situation, it became clear that a rehabilitation project would be the right solution to restore both the function and the appearance of the fence.

Planning the Rehabilitation

After completing the site survey, the next step was to start the planning process. I began by measuring the sections of the fence that needed repair. These measurements helped determine the amount of work required and the materials that would be needed for the rehabilitation.

Then I started preparing a simple design for the fence. The idea was not to completely change its appearance, but to improve and strengthen the existing structure. I wanted the final result to look neat, balanced, and suitable for the character of a kindergarten environment.

Another important part of the planning stage was preparing the budget estimation (RAB/Bill of Quantity). This included calculating the materials such as bricks, cement, sand, and paint, as well as estimating the labor needed for the construction work. Good planning is always important because it helps ensure the project can run smoothly once the work begins.

When I started thinking about the design for this fence rehabilitation project, the first thing that came to my mind was the main gate. For me, the gate is always the focal point of a fence. It is the first thing people will see before they even notice the building inside the school. Because of that, I wanted the gate to have a strong visual presence, even though the budget for this project was quite limited.

With the available budget, I could only handle around 80 percent of the front side of the fence. The existing fence before was using BRC steel, but in this rehabilitation I decided to replace it with brick wall combined with concrete rooster (vent blocks). I did not want the fence to feel too closed. By using rooster blocks, people inside the school can still see outside, and the outside area can still be monitored from inside the school environment.

To make the fence look less plain, I added some horizontal relief lines along the wall and also made a frame relief around the rooster openings. These details are actually quite simple, but they help give more character to the fence facade. In reality, the rehabilitation cost could have been much higher if everything was demolished and rebuilt from the beginning. Instead, I tried to use as much of the existing structure as possible, so the project could stay within the budget.

For the fence columns, I decided to keep the existing columns because structurally they were still good. However, visually they looked too small for the new fence design. To solve that, I wrapped the columns with additional brick layers and added some relief so they look bigger and more solid. It is a small intervention, but it makes the whole fence feel more balanced.

Some people may ask why I chose brick and concrete instead of other materials. One of the main reasons is because this is a kindergarten school fence. Children usually have a very high curiosity. They like to touch things, climb things, and sometimes play around the fence. If I used materials like metal bars or plastic panels, the durability might not be very good. The school is also located close to the beach, where the salty air can cause corrosion much faster. Using brick and concrete makes the fence more durable and also safer for the students.

The same consideration also applied when I designed the school name above the gate. Instead of making a concrete relief, I chose to use PVC cutting letters. In my area, the labor cost for making relief work is actually more expensive than installing PVC letters. So using PVC cutting became a more practical solution while still keeping the school name clear and easy to read.

The Construction Process

After the planning stage was completed, the rehabilitation work finally started on site. The first step was preparing the working area. The team cleared the surroundings of grass, dirt, and leftover debris so the workers could move easily and safely during the construction process.

Next came the demolition of the damaged parts of the fence. Sections of brickwork that were already too weak were carefully removed. This step had to be done carefully to avoid damaging the remaining structure that was still in good condition.

Once the damaged sections were removed, the rebuilding process began. New brickwork was installed to replace the old sections, restoring the strength of the fence. After the structural work was completed, the finishing stage followed. The surface of the wall was plastered, smoothed, and finally repainted with fresh colors. Slowly, the fence began to look completely different from how it did before.

The Final Result

After all the work was finished, the transformation of the fence was clearly visible. The structure that once looked damaged and worn now stood strong and neat again. From a functional perspective, the fence could once again serve its purpose as a safe boundary for the school area.

Visually, the difference was also quite significant. The new paint made the fence look brighter and cleaner, giving the school environment a more welcoming appearance. Small improvements in design and finishing also helped create a more organized and balanced look along the entire fence line.

For me, seeing the final result like this always brings a sense of satisfaction. It is nice to know that a project, even a relatively small one, can make a real difference in the appearance and function of a place.

I almost forgot. Regarding the color, I gave the principal the freedom to intervene in this process, so the color was according to the principal's wishes. Involving her in the finishing process, for me, is another honor for the school.

Conclusion

This project was not a big construction project, but for me it was still meaningful. Being involved from the early planning stage until the completion allowed me to see the entire process and contribute to improving a public facility.

Working on educational spaces always feels special. Schools are places where the next generation grows and learns, so improving their environment—even in small ways—can still have a positive impact.

Hopefully, with the newly rehabilitated fence, the school environment will now feel safer, cleaner, and more comfortable for the children and teachers who spend their days there. And for me, projects like this are always a reminder that even simple work can have meaningful results.

Your architect @kharrazi