Intervention
Hangzhou Haichao Kindergarten is situated in Wangjiang Unit, Shangcheng District, in the heart of Hangzhou City. The site is irregularly shaped and planned to accommodate 16 classrooms. To the northwest lies a densely populated residential area, while the southeast borders an urban road. The architect’s goal was to design a healthy and joyful environment where children can thrive, despite being surrounded by high-rise buildings and busy streets.
Layout
The main building, designed with BIM technology, is concentrated on the northwest side of the plot. This placement meets the plot ratio requirements while distancing the classrooms from the urban road, thereby minimizing noise disruption to indoor activities.
By maximizing the open space on the southeast side, ample outdoor activity areas are created. The building’s form is recessed from the platform, reducing its visual mass and providing outdoor activity spaces on the second and third floors.
Wind and rain corridors flank the southeast side, connecting to the building and enclosing a centralized outdoor activity zone. These corridors also act as a buffer, shielding the children from the busy city road.
Spatial Connectivity
The relationship between spatial design and movement is vital to creating engaging environments. Rich and dynamic spaces encourage a variety of activities. The kindergarten’s plot ratio has been maximized according to planning standards, offering superior teaching spaces as well as expanded indoor shared areas. Notably, the multifunctional hall spans 300 square meters.
The playful atmosphere of chasing and exploring holds a special appeal for young children. Circular corridors on the southeast side seamlessly connect the building’s interior and exterior, creating sheltered pathways that protect from sun and rain. Outdoor activity spaces are maximized with a large, unobstructed area on the southeast side, receiving ample natural light. Children can freely move through the gently curved corridors and recessed building spaces.
Building Envelope
Each floor of the kindergarten features distinct spatial characteristics: the first floor integrates indoor and outdoor activity areas, the second and third floors provide continuous and recessed teaching spaces, and the fourth floor houses office spaces. These layers are expressed on the facade through pure horizontal lines, revealing the building’s authentic structure.
Regarding facade details, the exterior window glass is framed around the walls, with floor slabs accentuated by suspended white perforated aluminum panels and white paint. This design highlights the volume of each floor slab, making the kindergarten resemble floating BIM blocks when viewed from afar.
The use of full-height glass enhances visual connections between indoor and outdoor spaces, offering clear views of the lively outdoor activities. It also allows urban residents to witness the innocence of children’s play inside, fostering a unique interaction between indoor and outdoor life.
Project Drawings
Master Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Fourth Floor Plan
Coastal Chaosi Road Facade
Coastal Tidal Branch Facade
North Elevation
Section View 1
Section 2
Axonometric Drawing
Functional Analysis Diagram
Form Generation
Wall Detail
Project Information
Project Name: Hangzhou Haichao Kindergarten
Project Type: Educational Architecture
Location: Haichao Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City
Land & Building Area: 5,339 m² & 7,767 m² (including 2,430 m² underground)
Design & Completion Year: 2018
Cost: 23.68 million yuan
Designer: GLA Architectural Design
Office Website: www.gla-design.com
Owner: Hangzhou Xingzhi Education Group
Interior Design: Zhejiang Greentown United Design Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Shanghai Greentown Aijing Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd
Photographer: Su Shengliang
Main Materials: Aluminum panels, glass, Boming coating
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