Zhuoying International Preschool College, headquartered in London, UK (Joying Education LTD), leverages extensive kindergarten management experience and a dedicated doctoral-level management team. The college uses Zhuoying Park as a gateway to help children develop a broad understanding of the world, fostering a well-rounded personality and nurturing a sense of global citizenship from an early age.
VMDPE Roundway Design was commissioned for this project. After thorough discussions with the teaching team, clear design goals were set. The aim was to create an environment that stimulates children’s interests, caters to their needs, and encourages positive responses. The design fosters trustful relationships among children and supports their growth through interactions with peers and their environment, ultimately promoting learning and development.
Open and Bright Classroom Spaces
The classrooms serve as the primary locations for daily teaching activities. They are designed to provide comfortable lighting suitable for young children. The spacious layout allows teachers to easily observe students and take notes without distractions, enabling focused engagement during lessons.
The preschool regularly organizes teacher training courses on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for educators both locally and internationally. To support this, a flexible activity space was specially designed. This area serves multiple purposes, including teaching, meetings, and as a playful light and shadow classroom for children’s daily activities.
The facility’s layout and functions emphasize three key relationships: between children and teachers, children and parents, and children and the community, extending even to the broader world.
Children and Teachers
The design prioritizes optimal lighting in classroom spaces and connects these rooms through shared public areas. Sensory integration games and a small theater are located outside the classrooms, providing children with additional spaces to engage in various teaching activities alongside peers and teachers.
Children and Parents
In the indoor reception area, a “time machine” installation invites parents to write messages or wishes for their children, creating a meaningful communication bridge. This feature highlights the unique journey of each child from enrollment through to graduation.
Children and Community
The design encourages strong community engagement and home-school interaction. The outdoor fence can be transformed into a small market window at any time, fostering community connection. Inside, the climbing activity area doubles as a cultural display wall for children’s artwork, preparing for cultural events and parent open days. This gives children’s creations a formal exhibition space, akin to art galleries.
Children and International Exchange
With Zhuoying College’s own campus in the UK, the design includes a small outdoor mailbox where children can exchange letters with peers from local UK kindergartens. Interactive indoor screens enable children from both locations to greet each other, fostering stateless, cross-cultural friendships.
Additionally, VMDPE Roundway Design provides a large indoor multi-functional activity space. This area supports diverse teaching methods and accommodates children’s needs in various environments. During drama classes, a retractable projection screen transforms the public space into a stage for small performances and parent presentations.
When weather permits, the indoor space can be fully opened to seamlessly merge with the outdoor area. This design philosophy embodies VMDPE Roundway Design’s concept of “breaking boundaries” in children’s educational spaces, creating an enjoyable and dynamic play environment.
In recent years, educational spaces for children have gained increased attention in China. As teaching quality standards rise, the educational environment must evolve to align with modern learning concepts. VMDPE Roundway Design continuously explores new possibilities and professional approaches in designing children’s educational spaces.
Project Details
Project Name: Zhuoying International Preschool College
Location: Lanjiang Mountain Skirt Building, Futian District, Shenzhen, China
Design Period: July 2019 – September 2019
Construction Period: September 2019 – February 2020
Site Area: 1,000 square meters
Status: Completed
Design Firm: VMDPE Roundway Design
Project Directors: Zhang Jian, Cheng Fengqi
Design Team: Lu Yuchun, Wei Zhuren, Deng Jingyu, Chen Zilong
Project Scope: Facade renovation, interior design, landscape design, lighting design, and prop design
Photography: Zheng Hangtian
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