The newly constructed Ocean Early Childhood Education Group Xiecheng Kindergarten, located in Linhai City, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China, accommodates 360 children aged 3 to 6 across 12 classrooms. The design revolves around the concept of “children’s big toys,” aiming to create a nurturing learning environment that offers comfort and relaxation. It fosters respect for nature, nurtures individuality, and cultivates spirituality within early childhood education.
The kindergarten’s park features a wave-shaped design that harmonizes with the surrounding mountains. This layout invites sunlight, fresh air, and plants into the space, allowing children to experience the natural transitions of the four seasons. Such an environment stimulates their imagination, sensory perception, and artistic expression.
The transportation space has been thoughtfully expanded despite the constraints of the trapezoidal-shaped land. This design breaks away from the traditional, monotonous layout typical of kindergartens by transforming circulation areas into both indoor and outdoor activity zones, each with unique thematic elements.
The elongated, corridor-like activity space functions as a social hub. Part of the circulation area is widened into a hall, serving as an indoor public play area. Additionally, children’s slides connect multiple floors both inside and outside, providing diverse and engaging play opportunities for young learners.
The teaching units maintain a standardized activity module layout arranged vertically. Inside, classrooms offer indoor activity spaces of various sizes, while outside, each class has dedicated outdoor activity areas that seamlessly integrate with one another.
These outdoor spaces are separated by small pathways, softening the strict boundaries between classes to encourage interaction. This creates an interconnected and relatively open spatial relationship that fosters both independence and community among children.
Inspired by the concept of “affordance,” the multidimensional children’s play spaces are designed to enhance the potential for children’s behavior and enrich educational value through environmental cues.
Early childhood education spaces are not mere collections of materials; they represent an interactive relationship among teachers, children, and the environment. By recognizing what the environment offers, children explore and discover new possibilities through play and interaction.
The kindergarten includes small, intriguing spaces such as hidden nooks and low-ceiling areas designed specifically for children to stand and play. These intimate areas help foster emotional development and understanding.
Equally important are the public spaces. The design incorporates a library offering varied reading environments, skylights illuminating the atrium, and multiple play facilities, all contributing to a bright, engaging, and multi-dimensional setting.
The “open” kindergarten education model, aligned with modern early childhood theories such as the Montessori method, emphasizes social interaction among children of varying ages. These interactions support psychological growth, knowledge acquisition, and social skill development.
Accordingly, the kindergarten design encourages spaces where children from different age groups can engage and play together. This approach breaks away from isolated, enclosed designs, promoting a balance between separation and integration, flexibility, and adaptability. Public activity and social spaces are prioritized to foster communication and community.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Expanded Elevation View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Exploded Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Ren Tian Architecture Studio
Area: 6,667 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Mountain Imagery
Chief Creative Designer: Ren Tian
Design Team: Lin Weiyi, Li Shiyi, Zheng Siyi
Collaborative Designer: China Academy of Art Landscape Architecture Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd
Principal: Linhai State-owned Assets Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd
Function: Educational Building – Kindergarten
Construction Contractor: Zhejiang Dajing Construction Group Co., Ltd
Interior Decoration: Zhejiang Xurui Construction Co., Ltd
Location: Taizhou, China
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