The environment plays a crucial role in architectural design. Buildings that are thoughtfully designed with environmental factors in mind positively contribute to their surroundings. The TTC Elite Ben Tre Kindergarten in Penang, Vietnam, is a prime example of this approach. It creates a peaceful and serene atmosphere that harmoniously blends people, nature, and the rich local culture of Penang. The site is located on a peninsula with a mild climate, formed by the beautiful Cuilong River’s alluvial plains.
To reflect the area’s natural beauty and rich culture, the architect embraced traditional Vietnamese architectural elements. The design features an open-plan layout that unfolds the building into multiple sections, allowing seamless integration between indoor and outdoor spaces and a stronger connection with nature.
The kindergarten comprises two distinct parts: a hillside section and a geometric volume atop the hill. The upper volume provides high-quality spaces dedicated to children’s artistic development and indoor activities, while also serving as an ideal vantage point overlooking the urban panorama. The hillside section forms the core of the kindergarten, featuring classrooms connected by spacious multifunctional halls that accommodate a variety of daily and special educational activities.
Within the multifunctional hall lies a large open-layout amusement park, designed to foster continuous interaction, play, and communication between children and parents. Penang’s relatively flat landscape in the Mekong Delta is complemented by the introduction of this hillside architecture, adding dynamic elevation changes to the urban environment. The site faces Trúc Giang Lake to the west, with the building rising gently from west to east, culminating in a square volume atop the slope. This design approach breaks away from the rigid urban grid, infusing vitality into the kindergarten’s atmosphere.
Furthermore, the layout allows visual interaction between local residents and children playing on the hillside, demonstrating how the architecture not only opens up to nature but also smartly integrates into the surrounding community.
The hillside section is the most unique and vital part of the kindergarten, designed to stimulate children’s curiosity and provide a rich, multi-sensory experience. Here, children play, learn, and explore their environment with excitement—engaged in questioning, discovering, and anticipating. This immersive educational environment supports their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth.
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Location Diagram
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Hand-Drawn Sketch
△ Hand-Drawn Sketch
△ Aerial View
△ Roof Lighting Diagram
Project Information
Architect: KIENTRUC O
Area: 1,491 m²
Year: 2017
Photographer: Hiroyuki Oki
Suppliers: Caldivi, Dulux, INAX, Schneider Electric, Xinfa
Lead Architect: Đàm Vũ
Design Team: An-Ni Le, Viet Nguyen, Phang Dong, Duy Thang, Dân Hồ, Tay Nguyen, Giang Le
Location: Bến Tre, Vietnam
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