△ Architectural night view
Located in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou City, this kindergarten covers approximately 7,800 square meters. Binjiang District is home to many high-tech industries, including Alibaba, and has been rising steadily in Hangzhou’s district rankings. As the district develops rapidly, its standards for educational facilities continue to improve. The primary challenge for the architects was to capture a contemporary educational architectural style suitable for this emerging urban area, thriving on technological advancement. Ultimately, the design combines modular concepts and fast construction techniques to create an engaging children’s building within strict time and budget limits.
△ Aerial view of the project
The site presented several challenges. According to Zhejiang Province’s “Construction Standard for Ordinary Kindergartens B33/1040-2007,” the total land area and per-class land area for this project are only 78% of the minimum required standard. Surrounded by tall buildings, the site also suffers from limited sunlight. The diamond-shaped plot is angled at 60° from due south, making a traditional orthogonal grid layout inefficient in terms of lighting, sun exposure, and land utilization.
△ Hexagonal honeycomb element
To address these challenges, the design adopts a hexagonal motif inspired by nature’s most efficient shapes. The hexagon offers complete coverage and optimal efficiency. Aligning the hexagonal honeycomb structure with the site’s angle maximizes sunlight exposure and satisfies multiple criteria, including orientation, sunshine duration, and site fit.
△ Interior of kindergarten
The hexagonal design creates many non-right-angled spaces that naturally encourage young children’s curiosity and playfulness. To avoid monotonous corridor layouts, a winding “activity belt” serves as the main circulation spine, connecting various spatial units. Along this belt, diverse communication areas of varying sizes, shapes, and levels of privacy invite children to explore and interact.
△ Rooftop activity space
△ Staircase corner activity space
△ Indoor public activity area
To ensure ample outdoor activity space despite site constraints, the building steps back layer by layer along the street, creating multiple roof terraces at different levels. These terraces extend the play areas upward, providing additional space for children beyond the ground level.
△ Facade effect
△ Wall exterior decoration
Meeting assembly requirements, the design integrates new materials and construction technologies to reflect the area’s high-tech industrial character. The exterior features white corrugated steel panels applied over traditional masonry walls and windows.
Application of Hexagonal Honeycomb Elements in Interior Spaces
In domestic architecture, color steel panels are typically associated with industrial buildings due to their affordability and ease of installation. They are rarely used in children’s facilities. However, these panels offer excellent durability, waterproofing, and structural integrity. Their fine texture combined with warm tones creates a fresh, natural atmosphere that perfectly suits early childhood education environments.
△ Entrance canopy
The entrance canopy combines bamboo and steel, forming a hexagonal umbrella shape that gives the building a unique identity. Bamboo steel is an innovative material created by hot pressing natural bamboo with phenolic resin, offering high strength, eco-friendliness, weather resistance, flame retardancy, and durability. Used as an exterior layer for steel structures, it protects the framework while conveying a natural image.
△ Facade perspective
The main structure employs a multi-layer steel frame system with factory pre-processing, significantly reducing on-site wet work. Through clever spatial planning and construction methods, the architects delivered a refreshing and vibrant children’s building within a compact budget despite challenging conditions.
Design Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
Project Information
Owner: Education Bureau of Binjiang District, Hangzhou
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Building area: 7,800 square meters
Design / Completion: 2017–2019
Architectural Photography: Goa Elephant Design
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