“A world map without utopia is simply not worth considering, as it overlooks a country where humanity will forever reside. When humanity arrives, it looks into the distance and sets sail towards a better country. Progress is the realization of utopia.”
— Oscar Wilde (1891), ‘The Soul of Man under Socialism’, in Selected Essays and Poems (Penguin: London, 1954), p. 34.
The story’s beginning can only be described as ‘stunning’.
From the dust of history to the freedom of today’s spirit, Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten represents a deeply rooted origin. Four years ago, Wang Junbao and his team first visited Leshan and immediately fell in love with this site. The connection was instant, and the place became an obsession for everyone involved. This story of persistence has inspired many and brought imaginative ideas to Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten.
From sunrise to sunset, through the changing seasons and the confluence of three rivers, to the ancient Lingyun Maitreya Buddha weathered by centuries—these landscapes and the dialogue between mountains and valleys inspire great respect for this land at Deca Architectural Design Center.
Everyone holds their own ideals and visions of utopia, but life’s distractions often shatter these dreams.
Whether pioneers in kindergarten design who have matured through challenges or newcomers still exploring, this team is a close-knit family that has persevered through difficulties. In a tense social environment where invisible rules limit creativity, they strive to break free from constraints on thought and expression.
Some individuals persistently follow their own path, using their strength to resist societal pressures and rekindle forgotten awakenings. Yet, this journey is challenging and demanding.
Guided by a focused vision, Deca Architectural Design Center began to explore inward.
Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten, situated in Leshan, Sichuan, spans 9,000 square meters. Its name, derived from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, means ‘a forgotten and beautiful place’.
Its architecture resembles a living organism, growing and spreading upwards, reflecting the essence behind its name.
With hopes and expectations for a better life, Deca Architectural Design Center chose Leshan, a city shaped by time, to realize this ideal place.
Imagination is the key to solving problems.
When people face uncertainty, daydreams can reveal new ways to make architecture meaningful and integrated. Imagination plays a crucial role in this process.
Kindergartens are full of magic and wonder. Deca Architectural Design Center embraces a romantic and wild imagination, inspired by Zhuangzi, to create buildings that defy conventional forms and expand the boundaries of kindergarten architecture.
These questions arising from the unknown, along with the details they inspire, strive to bring ideals to life, building a tangible utopia and making distant dreams a present reality.
Wang Junbao, founder of Deca Architectural Design Center, stated: “When children see a building, its concept isn’t written on walls nor taught by teachers. Educational ideas are rarely found on hillsides, outdoors, in classrooms, or through unique architectural forms. We aim to create a distinctive building that harmonizes with local culture. The ‘forgotten beautiful place’ from the Shan Hai Jing, where we hope children find their own beautiful place and appreciate all things beautiful. We believe that place is Leshan.”
Through shedding unnecessary burdens, Deca Architectural Design Center experiments with new approaches and explores fresh possibilities. Regardless of success, these efforts offer richer experiences now and in the future. All thoughts and explorations may be attempts to prove to the universe that utopia truly exists among the stars.
From 2021 to 2023, across three years, Deca Architectural Design Center has remained committed to authenticity and self-exploration. With a childlike heart, they have focused on kindergartens and humanistic reflection as their core values.
Whether through the steady determination of their team or the genuine sincerity that permeates their work, answers emerge. These periods of preparation and waiting resemble an ongoing experiment.
Excessive emotion without foundation is fragile, and excessive rationality can feel cold.
Ultimately, the world is made by people. Over these three years, from initial enthusiasm to continual creativity, trust and collaboration have been vital. This cross-cultural effort has transformed kindergartens from typical school buildings into spaces where children are free to play, imagine, and create.
Some things simply require patience.
Thankfully, after three years, the vision has come to life. Visiting the kindergarten feels like stepping closer to an ultimate dream, with happiness radiating from every screen. The children’s smiles and curiosity reaffirm Deca Architectural Design Center’s belief that the emotions in these stories are universal.
For a designer, the most important quality is love. While no one can guarantee that this kindergarten will produce the next Einstein, Mozart, or Steve Jobs, every child should have endless possibilities—not a single mold. A successful education nurtures individuality. Therefore, when designing a kindergarten, it is essential to embed thoughtful ideas and worldviews into the architecture.
Overlooking nearly a thousand mountains, sharing clouds and valleys, Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten redefines the idea of a sanctuary. It is a place where the Peach Blossom Spring exists—not elsewhere but here—and where the journey to a better shore begins.
The story was carefully contemplated, and Deca Architectural Design Center chose meaningful and evocative words such as dreams, loss, search, and perception to title different chapters of the kindergarten.
They crafted a series of complete, interconnected scenes that seamlessly blend the fragments of daily life with the children’s experiences.
Inspired by the local natural environment, the undulating mountain-shaped architecture invites visitors to feel as if walking into small caves.
Elements like gentle breezes, raindrops, shadows of trees, butterflies, cicadas, and stones all become storytellers. Each passing gust whispers quietly to the heart.
When we set aside prejudice, we realize that life in kindergarten can be wonderfully free and poetic.
……
Boundless exploration maximizes the power of education. Kindergartens are not machines or boxes. At Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten, architecture, nature, and humanity coexist in harmony.
The design of every floor emphasizes a connection with nature. Thoughtful layouts and windows allow natural light to fill each corner, like sunlight streaming through mountain valleys. Daily surprises from nature become the best gifts to the children.
The life here is poetic. As you step onto campus, the shifting light and shadows feel like entering a dream.
Walking slowly towards the roof, enormous clouds seem within reach. Surrounded by plants and trees, you can sense the forest at a micro level, noticing the unique essence of every plant as if each leaf carries a universe.
Deca Architectural Design Center hopes children will relish every moment in nature, bask in sunlight, and thrive in this vibrant plant habitat at Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten.
They employ a fresh visual language to explore connections between their environment and the world, building new narratives and possibilities for educational architecture. Their goal is to help children find healing and a harmonious childhood.
Indoor spaces challenge traditional layouts, embracing natural, artistic, and soft designs that deepen children’s appreciation of beauty from an early age, enhancing cognition and integrating with life.
Wang Junbao reflects: “It’s hard for me to see kindergarten as just ordinary buildings, because every structure carries a spirit—geometry, mathematics, ideals, and attitude. Only then can a cold building come to life.”
Deca Architectural Design Center sets aside narrow views and prejudices, seeking the purest sensory experiences—sight, sound, smell, touch—to create their ideal kindergarten. They embrace a broad worldview to inspire and expand possibilities for children’s growth.
Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten belongs not only to China but to the world—and, most importantly, to time. It is a continuous scroll in the tradition of Chinese landscape painting, weathered over millennia. It is a powerful natural red rock cave with extraordinary buildings and spaces. Its divine beauty transcends form, thriving in both wildness and harmony.
Deca Architectural Design Center continues to impress globally with groundbreaking designs, reshaping perceptions of kindergartens and making them sought-after destinations.
The emergence of Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten reflects not only strong student demand but also injects fresh vitality into the global design of kindergartens, marking a new chapter for the Deca Architectural Design Center.
Will this ongoing exploration be Deca’s final destination? What adventures await inside Da Le Zhi Ye Kindergarten? The answers may soon be revealed.
Project Drawings
△ Basement Floor Plan
△ Play Area Layout on Basement Level
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
Project Information
Project Name: Leshan Dale Zhiye Kindergarten
Owner: Sichuan Haisen High Education Group
Building Area: 13,334 square meters
Floor Area: 9,077.67 square meters
Location: Leshan, Sichuan
Architectural Design: Deca Architectural Design Center
Interior Design: Deca Architectural Design Center
Chief Architect: Wang Junbao
Design Team: Tian Jiabin, Ou Jiyong, Fu Huiming, Tan Huimin, Lu Qingyin, Gao Xin, Wang Qi, Tu Xueliang, Huo Liangyue, Zhang Zhigang, Chen Jian, Tang Shengyan
Construction Drawing Development: Wang Peng, He Jie, Chen Guanyu, Shi Wenlan, Gao Cong, Tao Hexin, Li Qiang, Zhu Bin, Gao Xin
Construction Drawing: Sichuan Chuangxiang Bosch Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Architectural Construction Drawing Team: Tong Jicheng, Cheng Mulin, Tong Ling, Wei Maolin, He Sheng, Wu Qiang, Zhou Bing, Li Biyun, He Xiaodong, Wang Min, Chen Jianwei
Design Start: March 2021
Construction Start: December 2022
Architectural Photography: Existence of Photography
Indoor Photography: Leon
Video Shooting: Zhang Qi (ES image), Zhao Chenglin (Mopin)
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