Recently, Goa Elephant Design and Jiangnan Management Consortium won the bid for the architectural responsibility service project of a six-class kindergarten, referred to as “Sanliting Kindergarten,” located on the JG0904-R22-39 plot in the Sanliting unit of Hangzhou Chengdong Construction Investment. This project marks one of the first pilot initiatives under the architectural responsibility system in Hangzhou and represents significant progress in advancing more outstanding projects by Goa Elephant Design.
Defining Boundaries, Energizing Communities
Sanliting Kindergarten is situated within a well-established urban neighborhood in the Chengdong New City area of Shangcheng District, Hangzhou. It is adjacent to community amenities such as elderly activity centers. The site is enclosed by buildings on the east, west, and south sides, with the only open interface facing a triangular community green space to the north.
△ Location analysis © Goa Elephant Design
△ Site analysis © Goa Elephant Design
The park’s design concept reimagines traditional boundaries by dissolving walls that separate inside and outside spaces, instead integrating the building’s edges with surrounding public green areas. Drawing inspiration from classic corridor architecture, the architects created a “transparent” interface between the park and its surroundings using a gently curved, inclined hollow wall made from metal mesh. This design offers a mutual “see and be seen” experience for both kindergarten occupants and passersby.
At various openings along the curved wall, high-backed seats face both inward and outward, forming social spaces that bridge the park and street. These areas invite people to gather, converse, and observe the lively activities inside the kindergarten.
△ Design manuscript © Goa Elephant Design
△ Design Development (GIF) © Goa Elephant Design
As urbanist Jane Jacobs highlighted, the nature of building boundaries greatly influences community vitality, safety, and social interaction. The transparent boundaries here encourage active “community street eyes,” enhancing safety for young children and the neighborhood as a whole.
This approach also reflects the architects’ hopeful vision for children’s growth—allowing them to thrive happily within vibrant, secure community environments.
Aerial View of Sanliting Kindergarten (Winning Proposal) © Goa Elephant Design
Fostering Intergenerational Interaction
Beyond the preschool community, parents who escort and drop off their children represent key users of the kindergarten. In China’s aging society, intergenerational co-parenting is increasingly common, with young children’s activities becoming central to family life. Consequently, kindergartens must evolve beyond childcare centers to become “bonding spaces” that connect families and the wider community.
△ Current intergenerational co-parenting trends in China
Based on the diverse activities of “waiting, accompanying, and playing” shared across generations around kindergartens, the architects crafted communal spaces that encourage interaction between elderly and young, nurturing emotional bonds.
Within the open boundary concept, small window-like stages are embedded along the curved wall, directing views toward the elderly activity area across the street to the north. These stages act as “framed scenery,” appealing to children’s love of intimate spaces while fostering opportunities for connection and attention between children and seniors.
△ North facade of Sanliting Kindergarten (winning proposal) © Goa Elephant Design
Extending northward from the curved wall, multiple landscape structures create an engaging walking path linking the kindergarten with the elderly activity center to the northeast. Together, the kindergarten and surrounding green spaces form a cohesive public area that bonds generations, acting as a vibrant spark within the community.
△ Interior and exterior spatial relationship along the Sanliting Kindergarten walls (winning proposal) © Goa Elephant Design
Intricate Structure with Playful Charm
The architects envision the kindergarten as a place for repeated discovery. They designed the entrance as a subtly raised “blanket” to invite children to explore the interior world. Inside, the space functions as a three-dimensional treasure map, encouraging independent exploration.
Entrance of Sanliting Kindergarten (winning proposal) © Goa Elephant Design
The building is composed of small modular units encased within a framework, making the kindergarten both a “house” and an “installation.” This digital framework extends from the facade to the rooftop garden, where it serves as a gallery. From afar, the kindergarten resembles a small creature with a grassy crown, quietly nestled among the surrounding structures.
To accommodate children’s scale and the functional requirements of the building, a modular system with a 1.8-meter basic unit was installed. Play areas like roof racks have a height of 1.8 meters, requiring adults to duck while children move freely, creating a playful “exclusive territory.” This design alleviates the sense of confinement in dense urban settings and allows space for future expansion.
△ Design manuscript © Goa Elephant Design
△ Interior Spaces of Sanliting Kindergarten (Winning Proposal) (GIF) © Goa Elephant Design
Within the wooden frame, building blocks are angled and stacked like toys, creating varied spatial experiences and movement paths on each floor. Slides placed between these structures add a playful element to vertical circulation.
The courtyard and large windows allow ample natural light and open views, enabling children to experience natural changes as they grow and play, while also facilitating teachers’ supervision.
In this inspiring and free environment, children can explore without limits, enjoying the flow of time and the joy of growth.
Project Drawings
△ Functional zoning diagram
△ Streamline Diagram
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
Project Details
Project Name: Architectural Responsibility System Service Project for Six-Class Kindergarten, Plot JG0904-R22-39, Sanliting Unit (Sanliting Kindergarten)
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Project Type: Educational Architecture
Consortium Partners: Goa Elephant Design, Zhejiang Jiangnan Engineering Management Co., Ltd.
Lead Architect: Zhang Xun
Owner: Hangzhou Chengdong New City Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Project Status: Winning Bid Scheme
Design Date: January 2023
Land Area: 3,900 square meters
Building Area: 7,250 square meters
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