Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

XinMeng Montessori Kindergarten

L&M Design Lab

SAVE SUBMISSION
Silver

1 / 10

Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Learning Space
7.58
7.17
7.58
6.92
7.31
Nathan Watts
Nathan Watts Creative Director at Interstore
Somewhere i'd like to work!...
6
8
7
8
7.25
Ting Yu
Ting Yu Chief Architect at Wutopia Lab
4
5
4
5
4.5
Frank Lee
Frank Lee Founder and President at Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology
5
5
5
5
5
Simon Goff
Simon Goff Founder and Director at Floor_Story
Really like the work from home feel...
6
7
8
7
7
Janne van Berlo
Janne van Berlo Founder at Atelier van Berlo
5
7
7
6
6.25
Nic Granleese
Nic Granleese CEO and Cofounder at BowerBird
5
5
5
5
5
Lorcan O'Herlihy
Lorcan O'Herlihy Founder, Design Principal at Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects [LOHA]
5
6
5
5
5.25
Tobias Geisler
Tobias Geisler Cofounder at VAVE Studio
4
5
4
5
4.5
Victoria Yakusha
Victoria Yakusha Founder and chief architect at Yakusha Studio & FAINA Collection of live design
4
6
5
5
5
Doris Sung
Doris Sung Principal/Director of Undergraduate Programs at DOSU Studio Architecture/USC School of Architecture
5
5
5
5
5
Julio Kowalenko
Julio Kowalenko Cofounder at Atelier Caracas
5
7
6
5
5.75
Jeff Yrazabal
Jeff Yrazabal President at SRG Partnership
Moving the needle in workplace desi...
6
8
8
5
6.75
Akanksha Deo Sharma
Akanksha Deo Sharma Designer at Ikea
5
5
6
5
5.25
Client
Xinmeng Montessori Kindergarten
Floor area
5000 ㎡
Completion
2019

It is extremely difficult for individuals or institutions to launch a kindergarten in China since the land policy. The owner and his wife are outstanding preschool educators. They hope to establish a real world-leading kindergarten in China. However, this old office building with poor sunlight is the only possible site for them. The original structure resembled a liner. It had limited space and heavily relied on artificial lights, which was against the common expectations of kindergartens. Sunlight, soil and grass are all essential spatial elements to children's growth. It seems to be impossible to be used as a kindergarten. Out of considerations of structural stability and costs, we have kept the entire structure and created an atrium running vertically through three stories. The design brings an experience of wandering in the woods, columns become trees and beams become bridges to form abundant spatial effects. "Tree houses" provide private spaces for children to read and do handwork. Such design guarantees that all classrooms receive natural light from both sides. The third floor provides a combination of indoor and outdoor activity areas connected by a plastic track. The track is an extension of the atrium and separates out various thematic activity areas. The kindergarten thoughtfully considers the needs of children at 2-6. The facilities are benchmarked against the needs of children at 2-6, and distinguish between those for children at 1.5-3 and those for children at 3-6. Classrooms adopt soft colors and materials, creating a home-like space where child can fully express their potentiality. The design of the kindergarten has been drawing on the Montessori concepts and principles. Besides safety, we give freedom back to children. It's exciting that this kindergarten is now the best one in south China. Design and love bring sunlight into childhood.