Qiancheng Kindergarten, Shenzhen

For this project, the designers intended to optimize the mode for sending kids to the kindergarten and picking them up after school, and to create a space for parents where they can enjoy coffee and dessert, appreciate artworks, talk and share parenting experience with each other when waiting for their kids.

The educators and designers worked together to create a unique circulation route for kids within the kindergarten. The staircase is subtly divided into two parts, and its end leads to children's favorite activity area that is equipped with many large-scale installations. Along the way, the kids can complete staircase-climbing training in a relaxing and playful manner without even realizing it, and then reach the classroom area.

Every classroom was designed based on rigorous calculation. All the data and factors that might influence kids' healthy sensory development, such as room temperature throughout the year, ventilation, sound field and material textures, were rigorously controlled. The lighting, forms and color palette of different spaces were carefully designed based on children's mentality, in order to create a conformable educational environment from the kids' perspectives.

Traditional early-childhood education in China emphasizes the importance of teaching and practice. However, the designers thought that illustrating and demonstration are also important, because a playful way of demonstration can help focus kids' attention. Therefore, how to break the conventional teaching modes became the key of the design. In addition to common classrooms, the designers set many scenes to help facilitate the communication and interaction between educators and kids. Take the exhibition area as an example. Through the exhibited works, the educators can share with the kids their feeling and views on art and other beautiful things, develop the kids' aesthetic views and values, and meanwhile leave them an unforgettable good memory of the kindergarten.