The Third Youth Palace project in Guangzhou is situated at No. 68 Zhendong Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. It forms a vibrant cluster of urban public activity venues alongside regional sports centers, libraries, and other public facilities. As one of the core buildings in the regional science popularization education area, the site spans 28,000 square meters with a total construction area of 29,000 square meters. The building features five floors above ground and one underground level, reaching a total height of 27 meters. The main teaching building of the Children’s Palace is seamlessly connected to a 450-seat small theater via an aerial corridor. This project has enhanced the urban landscape of the community and has become a landmark cultural hub in Huangpu District.
The design respects the natural terrain, positioning the Children’s Palace on the west side of the plot and the theater on the east. These two volumes are linked by a streamlined bridge, creating a continuous pedestrian path and engaging urban interface. Functionally, the complex integrates diverse activities including Young Pioneers programs, children’s educational exhibitions, science popularization experiences, aesthetic education, and sports facilities, providing a wide range of learning and recreational spaces for children in the region.
While the building’s floor plan is orderly and structured, the exterior contours are lively and free-form. The combination of cloud-like open spaces and colorful horizontal grids gives the building an appearance full of flexibility and unpredictability. This design softens the building’s silhouette, shaping it into colorful petals and flowing curves, creating ever-changing facades from different angles—each view offering a fresh and exciting perspective.
The design incorporates playful game elements throughout the architecture and landscape, making the building itself a source of fun. Every corner—walls, floors, and ceilings—becomes a playmate for children, enhancing their experience and interaction with the space.
The central courtyard of the Children’s Palace invites children to engage closely with nature. Centered around the theme “Letting Go of Childhood Dreams,” the courtyard features whimsical oversized balloon walls. Multiple small platforms are arranged at varying heights, creating a captivating miniature universe that sparks the imagination of young visitors.
The project embraces principles of economy, functionality, and aesthetics, achieving cost reductions in both construction and maintenance while maintaining high quality standards. The cost per square meter is 25% lower than comparable projects in China. Notably, the light shed design and rainbow railing have been granted Chinese utility model patents.
The design process reflects a deep respect and response to the environment of public spaces in Lingnan city. It provides children in the community with enjoyable and comfortable learning and activity areas, promoting design concepts that inspire creativity and imagination among young people. This approach embodies the pursuit of truth and practicality characteristic of Lingnan architectural creation.
Project Drawings
△ Base Schematic Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Analysis Chart
△ Block Generation Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Guangzhou Urban Planning Survey and Design Institute
Area: 29,000 m²
Project Year: 2020
Project Leaders: Hu Zhanhong, Lai Yidui
Lead Designers: Hu Zhanhong, Lai Yidui
Architects: Hu Zhanhong, Fan Yuehong, Qu Huimei, Lai Yidui, Zhang Qingning, Yang Han, Zhang Chenghui, Leon Lai, Zeng Qi, Liang Yan, Tan Zhongjing, Li Ziyan, Xu Zhuo’an
Structural Design: Liu Yang, Chen Weijun, Yang Zhiqiang, Wei Runzhong
Landscape Design: Ye Dan
Water Supply and Drainage Design: Liu Dongyan, Liu Bijuan
Electrical Design: Tian Bin, Zhou Zhiqiang
HVAC Design: Zhang Xianghui
Client: Guangzhou Youth Palace
Interior Design: Urban Group Design Group Co., Ltd
Engineering Design: Guangzhou Urban Planning Survey and Design Institute
Curtain Wall Consultant: Tongcheng Architecture
Location: Guangzhou
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