LYCS Architecture designed the KINCANG Modern Preschool with a thoughtful design for young learners in Shaoxing, China.

LYCS Architecture designed KINCANG Modern Pre-school with the highest standards of kindergarten architecture in China. The project is located in a high-density old city surrounded by residential areas from various eras. The Xiaoshao Canal flows quietly from the southeast of the site, reflecting the tranquil life of the old town.

With a high FAR of 1.3, it is a rare “high-density” kindergarten. The biggest challenge was to make a four-story high kindergarten friendly and nurturing while allowing children to interact with nature and set free their imaginations.

The design team proposed the concept of “The Wizard of Oz” to create a spatial sense of exploration against density. The design introduced a group of six small-scale white gabled buildings that form a U-shape campus that faces the river. These six buildings sit on an undulating “green carpet,” partially concealing the volumes of the buildings in nature and creating multi-dimensional activity spaces. The spaces generate a sense of fairytale-like exploration of the Wizard of Oz.

The garden at the center of the kindergarten faces the river. On a clear day, the garden’s lush greenery and the river’s shimmering waves attract children to the outdoors to experience real nature. Children can be exposed to various plants and flowers and raise little animals in the backyard along the river, actively helping them understand more about nature.

The building presents a diverse yet harmonious sense of unity, the major material is white aluminum, and the inner side is embellished with bright yellow and red colors, increasing the vitality of the spaces. The six small-scale buildings customized for the children raise their sense of identity and belonging to the campus, thus turning the site into a paradise for the children.

Design: LYCS Architecture
Photography: Wu Qing Shan, Shanghai Benxi Vision