Yongle Town, the county seat of Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area County, stretches along the Baishuijiang River valley, characterized by its steep terrain. The design focuses on the landscape, topography, town layout, communities, and children’s activities. By “patching” public spaces, allowing the “overflow” of children’s daily lives and play, and “reproducing” the streets alongside the mountain scenery, the boundaries between terrain and landscape gradually dissolve, enabling kindergartens to seamlessly integrate into the community.
The site features a distinct three-level height difference, each ranging from 3 to 5 meters. The design elevates the open play area on the original terrace, with activity rooms located on the second and third floors, creating a two-story raised “arcade.” Buildings are strategically positioned close to the terrace edges to enhance street connectivity, restore the street interface, and foster a welcoming and engaging pedestrian experience.
The community-oriented and scenic design of the kindergarten establishes a new visual dynamic of “seeing and being seen” between the streets and the neighborhood. The lively sounds and playful scenes of children under the arcade spill into the street, drawing the attention of passersby and becoming a vibrant part of the daily streetscape.
A circular corridor wraps around the site, connecting the building with the outdoor spaces and accessible from the second and third floors. Children descend to the ground via ramps, spirals, and sand pits. The play areas beneath the elevated sections incorporate features like “caves,” “bridges,” “tunnels,” and “slopes,” fostering exploration and playful experiences.
The indoor spaces are designed to be child-friendly and scaled to the perceptual size of children’s bodies, aiming to provide a strong emotional sense of belonging. Inspired by the triangular “cabin” form, these spaces allow teachers to comfortably organize activities in cozy “corner spaces.” Different corners are created through wall decorations, floor patterns, and partial partitions to enhance the learning environment.
Conclusion: Each day, children gather inside and outside the white building, waiting, picking up, and dropping off along the arcade-lined street. Children wave goodbye from the second-floor corridor, while adults and kids rest by the flower pond. Laughter and joy echo from the elevated floors, little hands occasionally peek through the transparent fence to greet passersby, and elderly residents stand by the terrace railing. This kindergarten has become a vibrant community landmark where interior and exterior spaces blend harmoniously.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Basement floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Site profile map
△ Section diagram
△ Detailed drawing
Project Information
Architectural Design: Dongyi Architecture
Area: 4989 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photography: Nanshe Architecture
Lead Architects: Zou Yanting, Xiao Yizhi, Xiao Yiqiang
Design Team: Zou Yanting, Xiao Yizhi, Xiao Yiqiang, Lin Hankun, Yang Yuanjing, Huang Jin, Zheng Zexu, He Yajie, Yang Zongxiang, Sui Jiayin, Tang Shuai, Ma Zhichao, Li Kaixuan
Supporting Organization: Shenzhen One Foundation Public Welfare Foundation
Structural Design: Sichuan Gaodi Engineering Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Project Supervisor: Sichuan Chenyin Civil Engineering Co., Ltd
Constructor: Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Yinghui Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Location: Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area County, China
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