this seoul kindergarten features five small volumes to relate to kids' scale, by daniel valle architects

to help kids relate to the architectural scale and feel more comfortable in the everyday environment, the kindergarten in seoul designed by madrid-based practice daniel valle architects comprises five small volumes painted in different colors which makes them stand out from the surroundings. the windows here are placed on different heights so that everyone — no matter how tall they are — can have a direct look out of the building. 

all images © lee namsun

to prevent children’s access to the wide road lying next to the main entrance, daniel valle architects has designed a transition space between the building and the street. this space serves as a safety area but also as a playground and as a buffer zone between classes and the traffic’s noise coming from the main road. for safety reasons, the parking area is located on the opposite side from the main entrance with access for vehicles from the smaller road.

the building is organized around a central staircase painted in blue with a large skylight in the roof that allows natural light access to the heart of the building. classrooms are oriented towards the south and east while the serving areas, such as kitchen, storages, elevator, and bathrooms, face the north. 

a greenhouse is located on the third floor that not only acts as part of the educational program but also as a heating system during the cold days of the winter. the warm air accumulated during the day is released later in the evening to the inner spaces contributing to the overall air treatment of the building. 

project info:

location: oksu-dong, seoul, south korea

size: 800 m2

year: 2018

design team: daniel valle, irene r vara, sunmin lee, yejun pee, sojeong noh, javier chan porras, iago blanco, de zign partnership (local architects)

photography: lee namsun