Preface
The story of our campus renovation begins in 2018, when Sixu was invited to design and renovate the Yunnan Yuxi Ecological Experimental Primary School. This marked the start of our enduring connection with Yunnan, embarking on a journey to design and transform numerous educational spaces in the vibrant city of Yuxi, where flowers bloom year-round. The Yuxi Yuepan Rural Kindergarten is a proud member of the Yuxi Renovation Series.
This project is one of Yuxi City’s livelihood initiatives celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China and aligns with the “14th Five Year Plan” urban renewal strategy. It is closely linked to the renovation of Guishan Garden—the first kindergarten education group in Yuxi. The project addresses large-scale demolition and reconstruction, emphasizes children’s individuality, integrates ecological elements, and redefines the role of educational buildings by repurposing idle urban assets.
Restart
The original site of Yuepan Tianyuan Kindergarten was an abandoned building on Bailong Road, in the heart of Yuxi City. Initially, the building was intended to be a Huizhou-style ethnic specialty restaurant. However, after the main structure was completed, the project was halted for various reasons. Now, it has been reimagined and restarted as a supporting kindergarten for the local community.
The renovation faced significant challenges: the existing buildings lacked essential kindergarten functions due to their original purpose, pedestrian and vehicle traffic were intertwined, and there was a severe shortage of activity spaces for children. After three months of design refinement, construction began before 2020, with a long period of anticipation. The main building’s repair and expansion completed in the first half of 2022. In September 2022, the “Treasure Box” welcomed its first group of children, beginning its new role as an educational facility.
Strategy – The Art of Addition and Subtraction
How can a building with a limited exterior and a conventional, somewhat dull interior be transformed into a lively, modern kindergarten full of character, designed especially for children?
Strategy 1 – Subtraction: Finding the Architectural Narrative
The first design step involved subtraction. Keeping the building’s structure intact, we removed complex and distracting exterior details, leaving only a clean, orderly framework. This form, a fully enclosed cube with an internal courtyard, resembled a box that holds treasures. Inspired by this, we named the kindergarten “Treasure Box.” The story it tells children is about opening and exploring this special “treasure box.”
Strategy 2 – Addition: Integrating a Curved Corridor
The original building’s facade and entrance were rigid and did not reflect the playful nature of a kindergarten. To adhere to budget constraints and preserve the original structure, we inserted a softly curved corridor. This corridor, wrapped in a grille, livens up the otherwise dull facade, injecting vitality and fun into the space. It animates the garden, making it dynamic and inviting.
The curved grille extends to form a horn-shaped entrance, enhancing the kindergarten’s visibility and creating a welcoming, familiar space for children as they arrive each morning.
Strategy 3 – Adding Multi-Functional Modules
Due to the change in use, the existing building lacked key features such as an iconic entrance, multifunctional activity rooms, specialized classrooms, storage, and play areas. We designed comprehensive additions to meet these kindergarten requirements. The main entrance was upgraded to be open and iconic. New activity areas and multifunctional rooms were added, with rooftop extensions connecting the buildings to create a cohesive, dynamic environment.
Strategy 4 – Balancing External Security with Internal Freedom
External Security – separating vehicles from pedestrians and creating safe pick-up and drop-off zones.
After renovation, vehicles are redirected away from the park. Logistics vehicles use the northern road, while pedestrian entrances serve as pick-up and waiting areas. Parents can conveniently park roadside for quick drop-offs, or use the western parking lot for longer stays, walking to the entrance for pick-up.
Internal Freedom – a rich, colorful flow of activities.
The western outdoor activity area features micro-terrain with sandpits, grassy slopes, and water play pools arranged in a staggered layout, promoting physical learning and engagement. Children enjoy lush greenery and run freely along smooth, curved paths in both outdoor and inner courtyards. The second-floor corridor connects to the rooftop of the activity room, expanding the play space.
Experience the Space
Our indoor design focuses on creating a natural and ecological garden environment. Elements like sunshine, wind, rain, and bird songs serve as the garden’s best decorations, allowing children to experience the changing seasons and immerse themselves in nature. The campus is like a large “treasure box,” inviting children to open it and play with the seasons.
Inside, ample natural light fills every classroom, creating a bright, spacious, and welcoming atmosphere. Walls and columns feature rounded corners for a soft visual effect and enhanced safety during play.
The design continues with a pure and elegant palette of whites and natural wood tones. White spaces are left intentionally to support teachers’ instructional activities. Materials are child-friendly, furniture is custom-sized for children of all ages, and all electrical outlets and switches are installed out of children’s reach to ensure safety.
Message
As urban renewal progresses and the demand for kindergarten spaces rises sharply, the shortage of suitable locations becomes more acute. Consequently, some underused urban buildings have begun conditional renovation. We repurposed and revitalized an abandoned building, transforming it into an exploratory and enjoyable learning environment.
We hope the “Treasure Box” brings joy and growth to local children.
We hope every school protects children’s innocence and purity.
We hope every child grows up happily in a beautiful campus.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Elevation Drawings
△ Original Building Axonometric Drawing
△ Rear Axle Measurement Diagram After Renovation
△ Functional Zoning Diagrams
△ Exploded Diagrams
Project Information
Project Name: Renovation of Yuepan Rural Kindergarten in Yuxi, Yunnan
Location: Yuxi, Yunnan
Design Firm: Shanghai Sixu Architectural Planning and Design Co., Ltd
Lead Designer: Wang Tao
Design Team: Chen Lifeng, Qu Haiwen, Tang Jie, Yu Yan, Shao Rui
School Scale: 12-class kindergarten
Design Scope: Campus Renewal: Integrated Architectural, Landscape, and Interior Upgrade and Renovation
Educational Stage: Kindergarten
Age Group: Preschool children aged 3-6 years
Total Land Area: 5,575.15 square meters
Total Construction Area: 4,051.54 square meters
Expansion Area: 1,158.52 square meters
Renovation Area: 2,893.02 square meters
Design Period: August 2020 to October 2020
Construction Start: May 2022
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