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Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten
China
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Other Projects by XAA JANSON XIAN ARCHITECT+ASSOCIATES
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten
China
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2024
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
Over the past two decades, China's rapid urbanization has reshaped its cityscapes. As cities evolve, renewing outdated kindergarten spaces has become essential to improving early childhood education environments. In 2022, XAA led the renovation of Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten, modernizing its layout and façade while preserving its historical charm. By blending heritage with contemporary design, the project revitalized the campus into a cherished space that fosters childhood memories and inspires young minds on their journey from home to the broader world.
01 Current Status：Bringing new life to the old, where history and the present collide.
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten is in the historic Yuexiu District at the intersection of Huanshi East Road, Xiaobei Road, and Jiaochang North Road. Nestled near the Inner Ring Road and Donghaochong Overpass, the kindergarten enjoys a tranquil setting, surrounded by lush greenery and traditional residential buildings. This unique environment creates a peaceful retreat from the urban bustle, fostering a rich cultural and ecological atmosphere.
Originally built in 1951, the kindergarten has undergone multiple renovations over the years. While the site has maintained a well-preserved ecological environment, critical areas such as functional spaces, circulation routes, drop-off zones, façades, and the main entrance lacked a cohesive and systematic plan. A comprehensive, sustainable design strategy tailored to the kindergarten’s identity was essential.
Following extensive site visits and in-depth studies of children's learning and daily habits, the architects developed a design approach centered on "softening boundaries and integrating old with new." The renovation aimed to enhance spatial cohesion, create visually engaging architecture, consolidate previously fragmented activity areas, revitalize the campus, and elevate the façade. The goal was to establish an inviting, exploratory learning environment for children.
02 Reconfiguration：Blending old and new, renewing spaces while preserving memories.
Rather than extensive structural changes, the project employed a light-touch intervention approach, preserving historical elements while incorporating modern geometric forms—circles. Circles of varying sizes define functional areas, overlapping and intersecting to create a sense of movement and spatial layering. This blurs the boundaries between architecture and environment, allowing indoor and outdoor spaces to flow seamlessly into one another, forming an immersive learning and play experience.
Reorganizing Functional Zones：The existing campus layout presented several challenges, including multiple height variations and isolated second-floor activity platforms in the northern section. To address these issues, the design restructured the site into three primary zones: Ecological Garden – Preserving existing trees and greenery to create a nature-based activity area; Sports Valley – Relocating sports fields and tracks away from teaching areas to minimize noise disruption; Playground – Establishing a new corridor system to connect second-floor activity platforms, creating flexible and multifunctional play spaces.
Enhancing the Corridor System; Blurring Indoor-Outdoor Boundaries：The kindergarten’s covered corridors had undergone multiple renovations, resulting in inconsistent designs and incomplete connectivity between buildings. Additionally, certain key entrances and passageways lacked adequate rain shelters, posing safety risks and failing to meet building code requirements. The new design introduced a continuous corridor system tailored to the needs of the north and south zones, linking individual buildings with previously disconnected activity areas. Brightly colored and fluidly designed, these corridors define a series of inward-facing courtyards, improving both circulation efficiency and spatial engagement. Enhanced connectivity allows children to move freely within a diverse and stimulating learning environment.
Adjusting and Reallocating Functional Layout：To accommodate evolving educational needs, the campus layout was reconfigured as follows: Additional classrooms were incorporated into Buildings 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12; Administrative offices were centralized in Building 13; The medical room was relocated to Building 12, while the children’s library moved to Building 7; and An elevated open-air activity space was introduced to enhance outdoor play areas.
03 Transformation：Enhancing and refining, keeping the spirit of Qingyang alive.
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten holds cherished childhood memories for generations of residents. Its architectural style spans from the 1950s to the early 2000s, reflecting the passage of time. The kindergarten’s cultural philosophy, QingYang (Green Sun), is rooted in this history: it represents the vibrant green of budding plants under the morning sun, symbolizing children as young saplings, deeply rooted in the land, growing with optimism and resilience.
Given that the buildings were constructed in different eras, their façades varied in color, materials, and condition, resulting in a lack of visual cohesion. Inspired by the QingYang philosophy, the renovation introduced a harmonious color palette: Yellow and orange symbolize the warmth of the morning sun; Green represents young saplings; Brown signifies tree trunks, anchoring the design. Superfluous decorative elements were removed, and eco-friendly textured coatings and raw materials were used to enhance the façade’s overall aesthetics. Colorful metal window frames, sunshades, and air-conditioning covers were introduced, creating a kindergarten environment that embodies warmth, imagination, and childhood wonder.
04 Subtle Renewal：Sustainable improvements, breathing new energy into key spaces.
To further enhance the corridor system, landscape micro-renovations were introduced at key nodes, including entrances, second-floor platforms, and open-air spaces. The improvements included: Removing unnecessary fencing and integrating landscaped flower beds to address elevation differences; Adding tree-planter seating areas to provide children with shaded resting spots; Introducing sculptural play installations and water features to create a continuous, immersive landscape experience. These enhancements seamlessly connect different areas of the campus, reinforcing the kindergarten’s natural and minimalist aesthetic while fostering a dynamic, engaging environment for children.
We believe that nature serves as a child’s best early educator. This renovation prioritizes sustainability by preserving all existing trees and greenery, encouraging curiosity and interaction with the natural environment. The design fosters a deep connection between children, nature, and architecture, creating an outdoor learning experience where they can run freely, bask in the sunlight, and unleash boundless imagination.
01 Current Status：Bringing new life to the old, where history and the present collide.
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten is in the historic Yuexiu District at the intersection of Huanshi East Road, Xiaobei Road, and Jiaochang North Road. Nestled near the Inner Ring Road and Donghaochong Overpass, the kindergarten enjoys a tranquil setting, surrounded by lush greenery and traditional residential buildings. This unique environment creates a peaceful retreat from the urban bustle, fostering a rich cultural and ecological atmosphere.
Originally built in 1951, the kindergarten has undergone multiple renovations over the years. While the site has maintained a well-preserved ecological environment, critical areas such as functional spaces, circulation routes, drop-off zones, façades, and the main entrance lacked a cohesive and systematic plan. A comprehensive, sustainable design strategy tailored to the kindergarten’s identity was essential.
Following extensive site visits and in-depth studies of children's learning and daily habits, the architects developed a design approach centered on "softening boundaries and integrating old with new." The renovation aimed to enhance spatial cohesion, create visually engaging architecture, consolidate previously fragmented activity areas, revitalize the campus, and elevate the façade. The goal was to establish an inviting, exploratory learning environment for children.
02 Reconfiguration：Blending old and new, renewing spaces while preserving memories.
Rather than extensive structural changes, the project employed a light-touch intervention approach, preserving historical elements while incorporating modern geometric forms—circles. Circles of varying sizes define functional areas, overlapping and intersecting to create a sense of movement and spatial layering. This blurs the boundaries between architecture and environment, allowing indoor and outdoor spaces to flow seamlessly into one another, forming an immersive learning and play experience.
Reorganizing Functional Zones：The existing campus layout presented several challenges, including multiple height variations and isolated second-floor activity platforms in the northern section. To address these issues, the design restructured the site into three primary zones: Ecological Garden – Preserving existing trees and greenery to create a nature-based activity area; Sports Valley – Relocating sports fields and tracks away from teaching areas to minimize noise disruption; Playground – Establishing a new corridor system to connect second-floor activity platforms, creating flexible and multifunctional play spaces.
Enhancing the Corridor System; Blurring Indoor-Outdoor Boundaries：The kindergarten’s covered corridors had undergone multiple renovations, resulting in inconsistent designs and incomplete connectivity between buildings. Additionally, certain key entrances and passageways lacked adequate rain shelters, posing safety risks and failing to meet building code requirements. The new design introduced a continuous corridor system tailored to the needs of the north and south zones, linking individual buildings with previously disconnected activity areas. Brightly colored and fluidly designed, these corridors define a series of inward-facing courtyards, improving both circulation efficiency and spatial engagement. Enhanced connectivity allows children to move freely within a diverse and stimulating learning environment.
Adjusting and Reallocating Functional Layout：To accommodate evolving educational needs, the campus layout was reconfigured as follows: Additional classrooms were incorporated into Buildings 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12; Administrative offices were centralized in Building 13; The medical room was relocated to Building 12, while the children’s library moved to Building 7; and An elevated open-air activity space was introduced to enhance outdoor play areas.
03 Transformation：Enhancing and refining, keeping the spirit of Qingyang alive.
Guangzhou No.1 Kindergarten holds cherished childhood memories for generations of residents. Its architectural style spans from the 1950s to the early 2000s, reflecting the passage of time. The kindergarten’s cultural philosophy, QingYang (Green Sun), is rooted in this history: it represents the vibrant green of budding plants under the morning sun, symbolizing children as young saplings, deeply rooted in the land, growing with optimism and resilience.
Given that the buildings were constructed in different eras, their façades varied in color, materials, and condition, resulting in a lack of visual cohesion. Inspired by the QingYang philosophy, the renovation introduced a harmonious color palette: Yellow and orange symbolize the warmth of the morning sun; Green represents young saplings; Brown signifies tree trunks, anchoring the design. Superfluous decorative elements were removed, and eco-friendly textured coatings and raw materials were used to enhance the façade’s overall aesthetics. Colorful metal window frames, sunshades, and air-conditioning covers were introduced, creating a kindergarten environment that embodies warmth, imagination, and childhood wonder.
04 Subtle Renewal：Sustainable improvements, breathing new energy into key spaces.
To further enhance the corridor system, landscape micro-renovations were introduced at key nodes, including entrances, second-floor platforms, and open-air spaces. The improvements included: Removing unnecessary fencing and integrating landscaped flower beds to address elevation differences; Adding tree-planter seating areas to provide children with shaded resting spots; Introducing sculptural play installations and water features to create a continuous, immersive landscape experience. These enhancements seamlessly connect different areas of the campus, reinforcing the kindergarten’s natural and minimalist aesthetic while fostering a dynamic, engaging environment for children.
We believe that nature serves as a child’s best early educator. This renovation prioritizes sustainability by preserving all existing trees and greenery, encouraging curiosity and interaction with the natural environment. The design fosters a deep connection between children, nature, and architecture, creating an outdoor learning experience where they can run freely, bask in the sunlight, and unleash boundless imagination.
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