A Giant Yellow Giraffe Livens Up the Net Zero Giraffe Childcare Center in France

As you're driving through the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/azc-envisions-a-giant-inflatable-trampoline-bridge-for-paris/">suburbs of Paris</a>, you turn a corner and suddenly see a giant yellow giraffe ahead of you. After checking your coffee to see what extra goodies your barista put in it, it might occur to you that <a href="http://inhabitat.com/oeufs-adorable-animal-hats-show-us-where-the-wild-things-are/">wild animals</a> don't belong in Boulogne-Billancourt. But it will also make your day - and that's the idea behind <a href="http://www.hondelatte-laporte.com">Hondelatte Laporte Architectes</a>' Giraffe Childcare Center. Both a childcare center and a nursery with animal sculptures that liven the place up, the curious building adjacent to Jean Nouvel's Horizons Tower was recently awarded the green <a href="http://www.effinergie.org">Zéro Energie Effinergie</a> label.

This extraordinary childcare center is in France

The giraffe is visible from all angles

The Giraffe Childcare Center is also a nursery

The building was awarded the country's net zero energy label

The animal sculptures are designed to animate the children's imagination

One has to walk through the legs to get inside

A smattering of green gives the space a healthy aesthetic as well

Net zero means the home generates more energy than it can use

It's amazing how well the giraffe is integrated into the structure

There's also a polar bear!

The bear appears to be clambering up steps

The interior is bright and colorful

Finally, a family of ladybugs is crawling up a wall