△ Kindergarten and town main road
Wushe Central Kindergarten, a post-earthquake aid project by One Foundation, is located in Wushe Town, Hanyuan County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province. As the town’s first public kindergarten, it sits on a hillside canyon tributary of the Dadu River, surrounded by a mixed landscape and lacking quality urban spaces.
The design integrates the kindergarten’s new functions with the town’s spatial characteristics, fostering a renewed town spirit and emotional center. This child-friendly environment is envisioned as a joyful place children look forward to every day.
△ Kindergarten and Town Central Primary School
Mountains and Terraces
The site is tucked behind shops and residential buildings, accessible only via a narrow uphill road connecting to the main street. Emphasizing the mountainous terrain, the design organizes the site into two large terraces—east and west—with the building nestled between them around a shared atrium. The first and second floors open onto these respective platforms, showcasing the terrain’s natural contours through multiple terraces and roof decks.
△ Axonometric diagram
Clustered Layout and Elevation
Due to the site’s constraints, an L-shaped clustered layout was adopted. The building volume at the entrance is deliberately elevated, creating a visual focal point and high point on the site.
The atrium serves as the building’s spatial core, enhancing social gathering. A three-story courtyard opens upward to welcome sunlight, while continuous side skylights introduce rhythmic natural light. Morning and afternoon sunlight plays on walls painted in various colors, highlighting the changing atmosphere throughout the day. This design strategy of clustering and vertical ascent is also reflected in the building’s strong vertical form. The white facade contrasts sharply with the surrounding gray tones, while vibrant side walls add lively color.
△ Overall plan
△ Profile
△ Kindergarten main entrance
Central Atrium and Circulation
The atrium acts as the central hub, connecting indoor and outdoor activities both horizontally and vertically. Taking into account children’s behavioral patterns, interactive circular pathways are designed on each floor, linking the atrium with outdoor spaces.
The first floor contains only a few functional rooms, with a circular corridor accessible from outside. The music and sports room, located at the heart of the atrium, forms an open theater space with stepped seating, serving as a shared activity center for the kindergarten and the local community.
Corridors on each floor intersect around the atrium, creating dynamic visual and spatial interactions. Openings on each level allow fresh valley winds to flow through, combined with side skylights to ensure a well-ventilated, comfortable microclimate.
Steps on the first floor lead to the outdoor side platform
△ First floor atrium and small theater
△ First floor free activity and small play area
△ Second floor corridor
△ Second floor corridor and small play space
△ Three-story atrium
△ Roof activity platform
△ Roof activity platform with distant mountain views
△ Outdoor acoustic grille
Design Drawings
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Section details
Project Information
Type: Kindergarten
Location: Ya’an City, China
Architectural Firm: Dongyi Architecture
Area: 2,310 m²
Year: 2019
Photographer: South Arch
Lead Architects: Xiao Yiqiang, Xiao Yizhi, Zou Yanting
Design Team: Xiao Yiqiang, Xiao Yizhi, Zou Yanting, Yin Shi, Zhan Qiaosheng, Yang Yuanjing, Zheng Zexu, Huang Jin, Zhang Zongpeng, Qiu Tian, Huang Lili, Huang Feiya, Li Zheng, Guo Fangjie, Hai Shan
Structural Design: Sichuan Gaodi Engineering Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Guangzhou Dongyi Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Client: Central Primary School, Wushe Town, Hanyuan County
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