Gulou Kindergarten holds a significant place as the birthplace of early childhood education research in China. Its newly constructed Jiangbei Branch is situated in the heart of Jiangbei New District, Nanjing City. Covering approximately 10,000 square meters, this facility accommodates five tracks and 15 classrooms. The project aims to establish a high-standard demonstration kindergarten that will lead the advancement and development of quality early childhood education within the Jiangbei New Area.
The innovative and vibrant architectural design draws inspiration from children’s artwork, fostering a strong sense of identity for the young occupants. The building’s form reflects children’s initial impressions of “home,” expressed through irregular, continuous sloping roofs that create rhythmic patterns. Staggered window openings contribute to a casual and relaxed atmosphere, while the use of rich, lively colors further enhances the children’s connection to the space. Environmentally friendly, weather-resistant fiber resin boards were chosen for the exterior walls, making the materials suitable and safe for a children’s facility.
The multi-level indoor activity spaces are designed to inspire children’s curiosity and spirit of exploration. Since children spend most of their time engaged in classroom activities, the classrooms face southeast to maximize natural sunlight. The indoor layout features wide, bright spaces organized along a single corridor, promoting excellent natural ventilation and lighting. These design choices not only reduce energy consumption but also play a crucial role in preventing disease transmission.
As a renowned early childhood education research institution, the kindergarten offers a variety of specialized activity programs tailored for young children. The first-floor multipurpose activity room spans 500 square meters and can be flexibly adapted to different thematic settings based on curriculum needs. The second-floor music and sports room offers spacious areas with excellent views of the surrounding continuous mountain landscape.
The indoor corridor along the riverside acts as both a circulation path and a play area, connecting classrooms on every floor. The playful, varied windows on the facade frame views of the river, providing children with unique perspectives to engage with the outside world. On the opposite side, an outdoor corridor combined with play equipment such as slides and graffiti walls creates a dynamic, three-dimensional play environment.
The outdoor spaces are thoughtfully designed as multi-level, playful environments where every corner invites children to explore and engage. Different scales, volumes, and spatial characteristics encourage wandering, playing, and social interaction, creating bridges for communication among children.
The main outdoor activity area faces south, ensuring ample sunlight and abundant greenery that supports children’s physical and mental development. The two side corridors enclose an internal courtyard that is both open and protected, featuring varied spatial scales. Different outdoor activity equipment, such as a performance stage, sandpit, treehouse, grassy slopes, and vegetable gardens, are integrated into the design, creating multi-level, three-dimensional, and engaging outdoor spaces that invite children to play and learn.
Project Drawings
△ Axonometric Diagram
△ Axonometric Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Detailed Drawing
Project Information
Architectural Design: Southeast University Architectural Design and Research Institute
Area: 10,744 m²
Project Year: 2019
Photographers: Hou Bowen, Jing Qian
Lead Architects: Qian Jing, Wang Yu, Sun Xiaoyi
Design Team: Qian Jing, Wang Yu, Sun Xiaoyi, Liu Jieying, Zhou Quan, Zhang Yongqiu, Yuan Jun, Luo Hanxin, Wang Jinfei, Bai Chen, Qian Changyuan, Zhang Cheng
Structural Design: Wang Zhiming, Cao Rong, Jiang Chaowen
Landscape Design: Tang Xiaojian, Sun Ying
Principal: Nanjing International Health City Investment and Development Co., Ltd., Gulou Kindergarten, Nanjing City
Construction Contractor: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Third Company
Location: Nanjing, China
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