A Kindergarten with an Engawa Space that Fosters Inter-Age Interaction

Kindergarten

MJK Kindergarten

●Fukuoka

A Kindergarten with an Engawa Space
that Fosters Inter-Age Interaction

A newly built kindergarten with a capacity of 240 children in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Since MJK Kindergarten values outdoor childcare activities, the building was intentionally designed with an exterior corridor layout, allowing children to feel closer to nature.
In addition to allowing children to feel the change and connection between nature and the weather by having their daily flow semi-outdoors.The spacious “engawa” (traditional Japanese veranda) with deep eaves fosters rich inter-age interactions, embodying Japan’s traditional engawa community concept.

An Exterior Corridor that Encourages Inter-Age Interaction

An Open Dining Room Connected to the Outdoors

A cafe-like Rest room where teachers can relax their minds and bodies

A learning space with semi-outdoor areas full of openness

Kindergarten

WD Kindergarten

●Guangzhou

A learning space
with semi-outdoor areas full of openness

This kindergarten, located in the Nansha District of Guangzhou, is a remodeled common area of an apartment complex.

The dining is located in the center of the kindergarten and can also be used as a semi-outdoor space.
When the windows are fully opened, the area transforms into an open-air-like space, allowing children to enjoy the fresh air while eating or moving around, even during the rainy season.

Additionally, the kindergarten’s over 16,000㎡ site features a rich, undulating garden with diverse trees, creating a natural environment where play and learning merge. This setting stimulates children’s curiosity and spirit of exploration.

A dining area designed to feel like a semi-outdoor space

Outdoor corridors with distinctive arch shadows

Multipurpose hall Connected to the rooftop terrace

A Kindergarten that watch over Children’s Growth through the Traditional Architectural Style of “Encircling”

Kindergarten

MD Kindergarten

●Huizhou

A Kindergarten that watch over Children’s Growth
through the Traditional Architectural Style of “Encircling”

A renovated kindergarten in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, integrates the traditional Hakka architectural style of “Encircling” throughout the building to support the daily growth of children.
The kindergarten features various spaces, including a hut-style picture book corner, an atelier, a climbing net that extends from the first to the third floor, a dining area connected to a garden, as well as mounds and ponds in the playground. These elements are carefully designed to foster the children’s sensitivity and growth through daily life experiences.

Garden Connected to the Dining

Windows inspired by traditional arched openings

Hallways designed to encourage learning while enjoying views of the surrounding landscape

A Kindergarten that Fosters Love for the Region by Engaging with Guiyang’s Local Environment

Kindergarten

WDB Kindergarten

●Guiyang

A Kindergarten that Fosters Love for the Region by Engaging with Guiyang’s Local Environment

This kindergarten, located in the Jinyang District of Guiyang City, is a renovated five-story building.

To help children connect with the nature and history of the area, the design of the facility is inspired by the karst landscape of Guizhou Province, China. It includes steps and net play equipment that allow children to be active while cultivating a love for the region.

An open dining room connected to terrace

Large net play equipment spanning multiple floors

The design of entrance is inspired by stone pillars found in Guiyang’s karst terrain

A Kindergarten where Nature and Art Blend into Daily Life, Fostering Children’s Creativity

Kindergarten

IBG “H” Kindergarten

●Beijing

Media coverage

・Rethinking The Future (IND)

gooood (CHN)

Archello (NLD)

・Archidaily (USA)

A Kindergarten where Nature and Art Blend into Daily Life,Fostering Children’s Creativity

This kindergarten, located in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, China, was renovated from a two-story office building.
Outdoor stairs and net play equipment connect the first floor to the roof balcony encouraging vertical movement and ensuring ample physical activity during cold seasons or bad weather.
Additionally, as the building is situated in an area rich in artistic and cultural elements, an art gallery has been installed, providing a space where children can engage with art as part of their daily lives.

A deck terrace connected to a lush green front garden

An entrance gallery displaying works by local artists and children: this provides a space where children can experience art in their daily lives

An atelier connected to a rooftop terrace
This space expands the possibilities for creative activities

Feel the light and people moving
A nursery where inducing spontaneous play and learning

Nursery school

XCG Nursery

●Guangzhou

Feel the light and people moving
A nursery where inducing spontaneous play and learning

A nursery renovated from a warehouse with a ceiling height of over 6 meters in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
By creating atrium and taking advantage of the high ceilings and sloping roof with top lights, so even on the first floor, children can feel the movement of the sun and people on the second floor.

Classroom and play zone with a sense of openness by not having a ceiling

A space where you can freely choose how to use it, combining net play equipment and a picture book corner

A space where children can experience the changing light and shadows from the skylight and see what teachers and friends are doing through transparent glass and net play equipment

Low partition gives a feeling of
freedom in narrow space

Nursery school

SDL Nursery

●Guangzhou

Low partition gives a feeling of
freedom in narrow space

This is an interior project for a nursery school in Guangzhou for 0–6-year-old children. In high-rise building which has limited floor space, it’s difficult for children to create plays that stimulates five senses. But in this nursery school, children can feel nature in daily life and create spontaneous play and multi-directional communication.

Nursery space

Library

Cafeteria connecting to the terrace

Little Forest Laboratory

Nursery school

KIDS SMILE LABO Nursery

●Kanagawa

2021 KIDS DESIGN AWARD

2021 GOOD DESIGN AWARD

2021 International Design Media Award

Little Forest Laboratory

A nursery in the office building managed by HIBINOSEKKEI. By taking the elements of the forests around Atsugi inside the rooms, forest steps, cave atelier, observatory library counter, explorer library and mirror pond are created. Children can play creatively by themselves in such a enjoyable and changeful environments.

Mirror pond

Observatory library counter

Forest steps

Enriching the Five Senses in Nature

Interior

ibg school

●Beijing

Enriching the Five Senses in Nature

We renovated the existing building into a kindergarten in Beijing, China.

There are diverse trees and plantings inside and outside.

Interacting with nature will enrich their five senses.

lushly green playground with various trees

nursery room

dining table terrace facing outside

Encourage to Explore and Play

Interior

CLC Beijing

●Beijing, China

2018 The IAI Best Environment Friendly Award (CHINA)

Media Coverage

・Architizer (USA)

Install small modules and create differens sizes of spaces

Like a old town in Beijing

Not only children but also parents and neighbors

can gather at this community center.

Each module has different education program.

Playing area

Corridor where people can see each other

Installed small modules

Promote Spontaneous Learning

Interior

KB Primary
and Secondary School

●Nagasaki

2019 GOOD DESIGN AWARD

2020 A+AWARDS(USA)

Promote Spontaneous Learning

An existing public school was reborn to

private Primary and Secondary school.

Without ready-made furniture, all furniture is designed according to the

function and characteristics of all kinds of rooms

so that students can have motivation to learn actively.

Entrance within tea room

according to the course furniture can move freely

children can feel warmth of wood in classroom

Composite of Nursery and After School

Interior

GSA Soltilo International School

+ Wisdom Academy

●Tokyo

Composite of Nursery and After School

A new style of children facility is open in new developing district,

including English nursery led by company

and after school learning facility was open.

By connecting these two facilities,

a new connection among children and parents was born,

which will be a safe and good child rearing environment.

Dinning space

stairs can be nursery space

lounge space connect nursery and after school