kindergarden by NAN architects blurs the boundary between interior & exterior in china

NAN architects has completed a kindergarten located at danzishi changjiahui area on the south bank of chongqing, china. its site provides a charming river view, while transparent volumes form sunlit spaces, integrating the vibrant courtyard landscape into the interior.all images courtesy of liu songkai

NAN architects sought to shape each classroom with attached basic facilities into independent volumes. in this way, these areas are arranged in grids and naturally form three courtyards, where the boundary between each has been blurred to a large extent. furthermore, the kindergarten houses 18 classrooms, offices, an activity room, a kitchen, and a clinic, covering 5400 sqm (58125 sqft).

meanwhile, large floor-to-ceiling windows are installed to ensure sufficient light for children’s activities, merging the exterior into the building. the semi-open corridors connect classrooms, patios and roof terraces, which provides plenty of outdoor chances for kids to interact with nature, and develop their kinesthetic intelligence.

NAN architects formed a stepped roof platform to take advantage of the site’s height difference and to reduce the negative feelings, which may come from being in large volumes. the high mass on the north side provides the classroom with plenty of light and an extended view. the floor-to-ceiling windows, corridors, and inner courtyards offer the entire building a transparent image that stands out in the haze of chongqing and adds life to the community.

the bay windows facing the street break the orthogonal grid with a dynamic form and build up a dialog between the building and the river. the building not only offers children after-class activity spaces to explore but also fosters their creativity. in order to create a pure integrated space, the concrete arch walls act as cantilevered structural supports for both the bay windows and floor slabs, unifying the architectural structure, form, and space.

project info:

name: chongqing danzishi kindergarten

architects: NAN architects

lead architect: cqadi, ccteg

project team: tang huilian, yang huiling, zhou dingqi, fang xiao, wang wenyu, chen mengfan, huang lin

location: chongqing, china

total floor area: 5400 sqm (58125 sqft)

principal: nan xu, wang yichao

project year：2018-2021

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edited by: christina petridou | designboom