dika design envisions round kindergarten in china as if ‘eroded’ by nature

 

 

the shengguo kindergarten proposal evokes the dandelion flower losing its seeds

 

covering an area of 7,300 sqm, the shengguo kindergarten proposal by dika design studio is envisioned as a full-time bilingual private school in guangzhou, yushan, china. inspired by a dandelion flower, the architecture is a circular complex that appears eroded or even ‘peeled off’ at specific points – evoking a dandelion losing its seeds to the wind. 

 

this ‘solid versus void’ approach allows diversely-shaped outdoor and indoor spaces to flourish — from terraced roofs to edged-out play areas and a central, circular courtyard.

all images © hou bowen

 

 

a flexible learning complex informed by strong curvatures 

 

as seen in many of its previous projects, dika design (see more here) challenges traditional kindergarten designs by breaking rigid lines and adopting more fluid shapes that encourage kids to ‘think outside the box’ and spark their curiosity. specifically, the architects cut off the ‘one corridor, multiple classrooms’ model and the monotonous aesthetic of most schools. they decided to scatter and alternate; educational classes and recreational areas were thus brought closer to each other — offering children more flexible and enjoyable spatial experiences. 

 

 

structurally, dika design proposed using reinforced concrete to support shengguo kindergarten’s main structure. a steel structure frame supplements the latter to create more flexible curves across the building. as a result, kids are welcomed into double corridors with inner and outer rings. for the final touch, the main facade stands out with its glass curtain wall, introducing plenty of natural light and sunshine into the classrooms. the architects also ensured that their proposal meets the requirements of good ventilation, moisture resistance, heat insulation, sun protection, and resilience against seasonal typhoons.

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: shengguo kindergarten
location: guangzhou yushan, china
total area: 7,300 sqm

building area: 5,580 sqm 

architecture: dika design
lead architect: wang junbao
participating designers: fu huiming, tian jiabin, ou jiyong, kuang wensheng, tan huimin 

landscape architecture: kuang wensheng tian jiabin

construction drawings: li qiang, zhang qi, tao hexin 

rendering: kuang wensheng, ma xin, wang dongping, cui yingnan 

brand design: ji fan, chen jian, fu huiming 

photography: hou bowen

 

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom