Reimagining Childhood Spaces: The Innovative Design of Shenzhen Kofa Kindergarten
KOFA KINDERGARTEN, situated in 1st Zhuxiang Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, is a school renovation project spanning over 3600 square meters. Formerly known as Xiangshan Kindergarten, established in the 1990s, KOFA KINDERGARTEN features 12 standard classrooms, along with a fitness room, a Gourmand workshop, a versatile reading hall, an immersive science and technology museum, a circular runway, a distinctive sand pool, and a LEGO workshop, among other facilities.
Shenzhen Kofa Kindergarten, A modern redesign to inspire children’s creativity.
As the starting point of children’s education, kindergarten is an important foundation to groom children’s aesthetics and creativity during their learning and growing process. The main purpose of our design is therefore focused on creating a safe and open space which enables our students to explore, seek and make full use of the architectural environment to inspire their creativity and imagination.
Interplay of Geometries
This project involves renovating a school structure that initially comprised various geometric elements. Our process began by enhancing the existing elements within the original space. Subsequently, we assigned distinct functionalities to each element and interconnected them with staircases. Emphasizing the fundamental geometries of triangles, squares, and circles in diverse spaces and positions, we symbolically represented them to establish the foundational elements of the kindergarten. Given that kindergarten serves as a child’s initial social environment, we believe that incorporating simple geometry can effectively stimulate their spatial concepts.
The ceiling design showcases dynamic geometric patterns that stimulate children’s imagination and spatial awareness.
A Forest of light and shadows
We transformed the courtyard and outdoor space into a forest full of invisible and abstract light and shadow, hoping our children could be inspired and feel the mysteries of nature while wandering in this space, and could explore the relationship of nature and life through sunshine, moonlight and starry night.
The courtyard immerses children in a play of abstract light and shadow, fostering a connection with nature.
Celebrating negative spaces
We are deeply grateful for the owners’ endorsement and embrace of our architectural ethos for this project. While most kindergartens are characterized by vibrant colors, we have taken a contrasting approach by utilising white hues and clean lines to define the space. This minimalism not only engenders a myriad of dynamic scenes with light and shadows playing across the architecture but also empowers children and teachers to unleash their boundless creativity without constraints.
All the furniture is crafted from natural materials, featuring a blend of white color and wood grain. Nurturing children in an environment rich with natural elements can positively influence their future psychological and physiological growth. Moreover, the white surfaces allow for the beautiful interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the overall ambiance.
The use of white and natural materials create dynamic spaces where light, shadow, and creativity flourish.
Children are naturally drawn to the fascinating elements that surround them. Hence, childlike notions serve as the foundational concept of our architectural design. By integrating shapes, materials, and lighting, we aim to capture the essence of children’s innocence and simplicity in our creations. Light and shadow, serving as pivotal design components, unify various functional zones seamlessly. At the heart of the kindergarten lies an expansive reading hall, topped with a distinctive skylight crafted from geometric aluminum panels, where light and shadow dance and evolve with the passage of time. This dynamic interplay transforms the space into a floating masterpiece, brimming with boundless energy and enriched by the presence of children.