Wujiachang Kindergarten

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi

WUJIACHANG KINDERGARTEN

Atelier Fronti

ARCHITECTS
Atelier Fronti

PHOTOGRAPHS
Xia Zhi, Hao Chen, Yun Wang

AREA
2300 m²

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Haidian Qu, China

CATEGORY
Kindergarten

Text description provided by architect.

Wujiachang kindergarten project, located in Lianxijiayuan community on the south side of Lotus Pond West Road in Haidian District, Beijing city, is a kindergarten with nine classes.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Yun Wang
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi

This kindergarten is built as a supporting facility for the surrounding economically affordable housing.

Looking downward upon the main building, it is divided into two functionally different sections by an east-west corridor.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Yun Wang
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi

The required activity rooms, lounges and restroom spaces for each class form a standard functional unit.

The three classes on each floor are accompanied by two staircase spaces, which are lined along the east-west direction on the south side of the central plane corridor, and on the south side of the building, the same functional planes develop up to the third floor.

In addition to the above functional layout, the most important consideration of the kindergarten is to view its entirety as a mode for spatial experience to be provided for children’s use.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen

Therefore, a rich spacial playing system is formed by the kindergarten through linking up the vertical transportation components and spacial devices on the north side.

The space within the cantilevered physical volume over the platform connects with the platform through a traffic pipeline near the north facade of the building.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi

On the east side of the platform, there is a cambered physical volume extending upward from the wall of the outdoor courtyard at the first floor.

In this space, the first floor and the platform at the second floor are connected by a staircase ascending along the wall.

In the northeast corner of the platform, an outdoor staircase connects with the courtyard on the north side, and an outdoor staircase is arranged in the middle of the platform close to the corridor on the south side, which can be connected to the first-floor corridor.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen

The two main staircases on the south side will allow people to access the roof activity platform on the south side of the building.

The activity space is cordoned by a glass fence in a region of triangular plane.

In such a system, there is a wide range of possibilities for the connection between those spaces, allowing every child to travel with an abundance of choices and contingencies.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Yun Wang
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen

The whole building seeks to become a huge "spacial toy" for children to play in.

Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Hao Chen


Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Yun Wang
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi


Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Xia Zhi
Wujiachang Kindergarten
© Yun Wang


Wujiachang Kindergarten
Roof Plan
Wujiachang Kindergarten
1F Plan
Wujiachang Kindergarten
2F Plan
Wujiachang Kindergarten
3F Plan


Wujiachang Kindergarten
East Elevation & West Elevation
Wujiachang Kindergarten
South Elevation
Wujiachang Kindergarten
North Elevation