A great kindergarten is dedicated to children, providing a warm, open, and safe environment.
At the same time, it embraces the city’s art, culture, and modernity.
▲ Dafu Bilingual Kindergarten © Wu Qingshan
▲ Children playing in the backyard © Wu Qingshan
Softness | Creating Warm and Gentle Spaces for Children
Kindergarten buildings primarily serve as spatial environments for children. Unlike other architectural types that emphasize strong spatial impressions or dramatic forms to stimulate the senses, the foremost principle for kindergartens is safety. This encompasses not only physical safety but also providing children with a psychologically secure and comforting space.
Within the constraints of the site, Dafu Bilingual Kindergarten employs a hyperbolic spatial design to craft smooth and gentle forms. From the entrance onward, children step into soft, enveloping spaces that nurture a sense of warmth and protection.
▲ Aerial view of the kindergarten’s location © Wu Qingshan
▲ The kindergarten breaks the urban grid © Wu Qingshan
Origin | Nestled in a Beautiful Seaside City
Dafu Bilingual Kindergarten is developed by Taizhou Social Development Group, operated by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Education Group, and designed entirely by the Thought Sequence design team. It is located in Sanmen, Binhai County—a scenic seaside city east of Taizhou, surrounded by mountains and natural beauty.
Like many campuses in third-tier cities, supporting facilities often lag behind main buildings and urban development. This project aims to address that imbalance through thoughtful design.
▲ Natural slope © Wu Qingshan
▲ A distant view from the slope © Wu Qingshan
Breaking the Urban Fabric
From an aerial perspective, the city is structured along its waterways with orderly buildings aligned along the roads, reflecting rapid urban growth. As the kindergarten serves as the first artistic space for children, its design intentionally breaks away from traditional kindergarten layouts, integrating regional culture and moving beyond the rigid urban grid to become a distinctive landmark.
Children entering the kindergarten in the morning © U-mei
▲ Two buildings encircle an elliptical atrium space © Wu Qingshan
Gathering | Embracing the Stories of the Sea
The initial design concept focused on “guarding,” symbolizing the warmth and protection akin to holding hands. Further research expanded this to embrace three local themes: aggregation, embrace, and return. These concepts reflect the power of nuclear energy, the nurturing of children, and the ocean’s embrace. Ultimately, the kindergarten’s form resembles a conch shell—a “conch castle” quietly narrating the endless stories of childhood growth.
▲ Night view from above © Wu Qingshan
▲ Layered relationships created by ramps © Wu Qingshan
Run | Gathering in the Central Courtyard
Beyond the entrance lies a curved, secure path where children run freely through a bright, smooth courtyard. This leads to the heart of the design—the elliptical central courtyard—an open space that invites looking up at the sky and breathing fresh air.
▲ Children running in the central courtyard © U-mei
▲ Central courtyard at dusk © Wu Qingshan
The entire second floor is designed as an open courtyard, surrounded by a corridor that blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Behind partition walls, the classrooms are nestled safely within this “seashell” embrace, fostering a free and nurturing learning environment.
Partitions combine various materials such as woven steel wire mesh and Yagli screens, balancing transparency and density to create a dynamic interplay of solid and void.
▲ Semi-outdoor space © Wu Qingshan
▲ Blurring indoor and outdoor spaces © Wu Qingshan
In addition to providing ample activity space on the second floor, the design cleverly extends play areas down to the outdoor first floor via a natural landscape ramp. This slope lets children explore their nature freely—running, climbing, and playing—while enjoying the gentle breeze and sunshine.
▲ Storage space beneath the slope © Wu Qingshan
▲ Children playing games © Wu Qingshan
Companionship | Growing Together with a Grand Tree
Large trees are planted from the entrance through to the atrium and lobby courtyard. As the seasons and weather change, so does the appearance of these trees, yet they always grow strong under the sun—symbolizing the children’s own growth.
The presence of these trees within the thoughtfully designed courtyards brings a natural, comforting element to the lobby, creating a timeless connection between nature, children, and the kindergarten.
▲ Life tree companion in the hall © Wu Qingshan
▲ Looking up from the courtyard © U-mei
▲ Looking up from the courtyard © U-mei
Lighting | Natural Light Without the Need for Artificial Lighting
Each classroom features large windows that flood the rooms with natural sunlight. Windows on both sides ensure cross ventilation while numerous skylights bring sunlight deep into the spaces. This design maximizes daylight use, reducing the need to turn on artificial lights.
▲ Sunshine fills the Smart Library © U-mei
▲ Transparent and bright Sunshine Activity Classroom © U-mei
▲ Large windows in the Vitality Woodworking Workshop © U-mei
Multi-functional Hall and Smart Library
Multi-functional Hall: With curtains and projection screens closed, the hall transforms into a lively activity room bathed in sunlight, where children enjoy freedom and play. Lower the curtains and turn on the projector, and it becomes a stage for children to showcase their talents.
Smart Library: Featuring colorful, curved partitions, the library creates a semi-private yet visually open space. Sofas, benches, and small stools can be arranged freely, allowing children to sit or lie down and immerse themselves effortlessly in the joy of reading.
▲ Sunlight streams through the skylight in the multifunctional room © U-mei
The curved wall defines a vibrant and colorful library space © U-mei
▲ Children reading © U-mei
Unlock | Discovering Unexpected Spaces Through Play
The design, rooted in local conditions and modern trends, creates many intriguing “unexpected spaces.” A redesigned doorway on the slope serves as a secret base where children can build imagination and friendships. The rooftop garden features a landscape wall shaped like a pirate ship, becoming another secret campsite where children’s adventures begin.
▲ Children hiding in the doorway © U-mei
▲ Rooftop landscape wall shaped like a pirate ship © U-mei
Growth | Embracing Time and Open Space
Upon project completion, the design team stepped back from minimalism and allowed the school’s users to shape the space. The blank walls in the hall, where invited graffiti artists paint vibrant murals on pillars, symbolize renewal and growth. These spaces become a collaborative canvas for teachers and children, completing the kindergarten’s identity.
▲ Children walking down the corridor © Wu Qingshan
▲ Children gazing into the distance © Wu Qingshan
Conclusion | Local Adaptation Is Key
Rather than chasing the title of “Most Beautiful Kindergarten,” the project embraces simplicity, focusing on aligning design with local culture, regional characteristics, and educational philosophies. The best kindergarten design supports local children’s development and individual needs.
Creating a quality kindergarten is not only a gift to children but also a cultural landmark for the city.
Teacher welcomes a child under the sunshine © U-mei
▲ A ray of sunshine shines on the kindergarten © U-mei
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Third floor plan
▲ Roof plan
▲ South building elevation
▲ North building elevation
▲ Section view
Project Information
Project Name: Dafu Bilingual Kindergarten · Taizhou
Location: Sanmen, Taizhou
Owner: Taizhou Shefa Education Investment Co., Ltd.
Design Firm: Shanghai Sixu Architectural Planning and Design Co., Ltd. (Architecture, Landscape, and Interior Integrated Design)
Design Director: Wang Tao
Design Team: Dai Qinghui, Chen Lifeng, Dong Wen, Sidi, Lu Qin, Li Jingjie
Collaborator: Shanghai Urban Architectural Design Co., Ltd. (Construction Drawing Design)
Site Area: 10,000 square meters
Design Period: 2017
Completion: 2019
Architectural Photography: Wu Qingshan, Yu Weimin
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