The interaction between space and children forms the foundation of the entire world of play. This dynamic fuels the energy of the environment and harnesses imagination to create unique worlds.
The creative inspiration behind NAFA Arts Preschool stems from the concept of a children’s sanctuary—envisioned as a “children’s haven” within an urban setting. Instead of traditional classrooms, the design incorporates porous walls featuring geometric patterns with concave and convex shapes. These walls spark curiosity and encourage exploration among children, naturally promoting interaction.
Distinctive areas such as art studios, dance rooms, and music spaces are designed openly to maintain seamless visual connections throughout the preschool.
The sloping roof is a widely appreciated architectural form symbolizing safety and protection. At the kindergarten entrance, the designer crafted a wooden house shape with a sloped roof at the reception and lobby area, creating a comforting and secure atmosphere for children. This design helps ease the anxiety preschoolers often feel when starting kindergarten.
Natural wood tones dominate the design, replacing tiles and coatings with wood materials. This allows children to run barefoot on wooden floors, subtly promoting the educational values of low-carbon living and environmental consciousness.
Maximizing natural light is a key design principle. Each classroom is arranged to ensure ample daylight, enhancing the vibrancy of the learning environment and motivating children.
The sloping roof design continues into the restaurant area, emphasizing its role as a communal gathering space for meals. Walls and ceilings are adorned with soft cherry wood laminates, adding warmth and a natural feel to the environment.
Supporting the air conditioning and ventilation system, half of the ceiling features a wooden grid design. To protect children’s visual comfort, soft, non-glare embedded lighting tubes illuminate the classrooms evenly.
At one end of the restaurant, a cutlery return station encourages good hygiene habits in a friendly setting. Opposite this, a projection wall serves as a screen for children’s programs, animated films, and monthly movie nights hosted by the preschool.
The flooring uses high-strength, absorbent vinyl material to cushion any falls, complementing the neutral tones and wood grain of the laminated walls for a cohesive aesthetic.
Singapore is a multicultural society that emphasizes cultivating children’s ability to adapt to diverse cultures and ethnicities from an early age. The open learning environment supports children in acquiring information through both verbal and nonverbal communication, while offering flexible design planning.
Each classroom includes a “corner crawling space” designed for break times, where children can crawl, play, and naturally interact with peers from different backgrounds. These open areas also serve as transition zones, helping introverted children integrate socially.
Recognizing children’s varying personalities, the design includes spaces with different comfort levels.
For moments when children need solitude, semi-enclosed corners offer introverted kids a quiet place to calm down, read, or engage in independent learning.
For extroverted children, classrooms provide ample activity spaces and abundant play materials stored in wall cabinets.
To accommodate children’s naturally active nature, a raised windowsill was designed for climbing and safe exploration using low platforms.
Nap time beds, which can detract from the visual appeal of the environment, are cleverly concealed within this raised platform. Positioned at the far end of the classroom, this feature does not interfere with daily activities and doubles as a play and reading area, maximizing limited space.
Large glass panels allow children to observe activities in neighboring classrooms, encouraging curiosity and better observation skills.
Classroom doors are designed as open glass doors to help children develop focus despite distractions, while also enabling teachers to supervise easily.
Segmented glass panels embedded in the walls create “porous walls,” naturally inviting children to explore and fueling their curiosity.
Instead of solid walls, spacious cabinets are used to divide classrooms, facilitating easier access and storage for both students and teachers.
Research shows that preschool children often prefer doodling on surfaces like walls or sofas rather than just paper.
To encourage creative expression, parts of classroom walls are covered with thick whiteboard material. This allows children to freely draw and express their imagination, while teachers can use the same space for notes and class discussions.
Hexagons are among the most efficient and material-saving structures found in nature. Their compressive strength makes them one of the strongest shapes globally. The honeycomb pattern creates more usable space with minimal material, while also enhancing sound absorption—an important feature for music and dance rooms that require sound insulation.
The hexagonal wall elements come in three colors: green, symbolizing youthfulness; yellow, representing positivity; and gray, conveying calmness and tranquility. This light color palette fosters a soothing and relaxing atmosphere for children.
The overarching goal of this preschool project is to create a safe, nurturing, and supportive learning environment for young children.
The design adheres strictly to the regulations of the Singapore Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), ensuring adequate space per child. Emergency evacuation routes prioritize children’s safety during incidents such as fires. Bathroom and bathing facilities are ergonomically designed for children while allowing for adult supervision.
Floor plan
Project Information:
Project Name: NAFA ARTS Preschool, Singapore
Design Firm: SODA Design (Spirit of Design Anatomy Pte Ltd), Singapore
Lead Architect: Tung Ching Yew (Zhang Jinyao)
Owner: NAFA ARTS PRESCHOOL
Location: 80 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189655
Area: 1333 square meters
Completion Year: 2018
Photography: K STUDIO
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