This is a kindergarten project near the science park where education has not been a priority in this area before. To break this educational disadvantage, we persuade our client, who is an estate retailer to choose the project site in an area surrounded by a park and a retention pond, preserving the best environment for preschool children to explore the balance between natural ecology and human activities.
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Gold 🏆 Winner
Urban Design & Architecture Design Awards 2024
Heka City
Educational Architecture (Concept)
Firm
Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute
Architect/Designer
Keng-Fu Lo
Design Team
Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute
Location
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Country
Taiwan
Photographer/Copyright
©Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute
By specifically digging down the structure of this architecture a meter below the original surface, we designate our educational space and playground from an area that extends upward from the ground level like a tree, symbolizing the growths of all species originating from the earth, allowing a better eye contact between human, space, and nature. The design can also be used for collecting water, maintaining the best water resource management. With a 4×4 layered structural framework, other activities spaces such as teacher offices, conference rooms, and art museums for children’s art display are placed on the upper floors that extend horizontally and vertically like a cell division process. We design a Metabolic architecture and hope to redefine the boundary between indoors and outdoors with the simplest glass and cubic elements in search of an optimal combination of space. Under this structure, a performance of light and shadow unfolds between the vegetation, the building framework, and the captivating atmosphere. It is a pure concept that realizes the essence of simplicity in modern architecture and fulfills the architect’s philosophy to integrate architecture with the natural environment.
This is an organizational scheme that accommodates different elements with various metabolic life cycles. Besides the ever-growing artificial cubic structure, a large number of plants are implemented both around and above the architecture. Trees around the building show their reflection on the glass window and white frame of the architecture as if we are surrounded by nature when sunlight shines. The roof above is also planted with trees to prevent thermal conduction from direct sunlight and improve the lighting. At the same time, by connecting ourselves with natural light, our children can experience the changing of time and space most naturally. What’s more, the architecture corresponds with the nearby Pool Park and the Metropolitan Park to improve the air circulation of the activity space. In this case, we provide the best air quality inside the children’s activity areas by introducing west wind into the classroom. In addition to light and air, we also maintain as much nature in the space area as possible. The ecological pool at the entrance builds up a small biosphere for children to experience how nature forms its cycle.
In this kindergarten, we rethink our living place in a post-pandemic era. It is a place where the community gathers with nature, but at the same time, independent spaces also remain for safety regarding human activities.