Kendall International Preschool by Cocoon Architecture Ltd.

Kendall International Preschool by Cocoon Architecture Ltd. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Competition Category.

IronInterior· 2020

Kendall International Preschool

by Cocoon Architecture Ltd.

Client: Cocoon Architecture Ltd

A' Design Award Winner in Interior Category

11,396

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #91814

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Kendall International Preschool

Kendall International is a preschool interior located in the podium of a tower building in Hong Kong. Box-like classrooms are replaced by half-height village houses arranged around a central plaza. The plaza makes use of the high headroom of the podium and includes a climbing wall, a birdhouse set on a column, a raised walkway and a slide. Openings connect the quiet classrooms with the active plaza. Simple natural materials in white and wood tones form a calm backdrop. The layout supports learning through exploration and a sense of community.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award

Kendall International Preschool is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Kendall International Preschool is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Kendall International Preschool is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.

Image Analysis

Color Temperature: Slightly WarmSymmetry: Both DirectionsBackground: Top and Bottom

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: 1. Scale of CITY vs Scale of VILLAGE
A village is created among the many towers. Classrooms are shaped as village houses clustering around a Central Plaza, where the kids play and run and dance.
2. Scale of ROOMS vs Scale of PODIUM
Existing high headroom makes the Central Plaza like outdoor. Different levels become possible for kids to explore, like bird-house and climbing wall.
3. Scale of TEACHERS vs Scale of KIDS
Kids have different ergonomics requirement. A suitably crafted space can increase their sense of belongings.
Dimensions & Packaging: This client is new to the kindergarten industry so they are open-minded and dare to challenge the current situation in Hong Kong. As it is a startup, the budget is a bit tight. We avoid luxury materials and put our effort in making full potential of the space and gives the best experience to the kids.
The materials used are simple and natural, mostly in white and wooden color, making the space a backdrop for the colorful kids. Instead of celebrating the architectural space we emphasize the kids’ existence.
Tags: Village, Kids
Design Challenge: Hong Kong is a Vertical City. Kindergarten in podium of a tower building is common. Kids study in boxes called classrooms. This kindergarten also situated in the ground floor shop of a podium in Cheung Sha Wan district amidst a very local community.
Thanks to the special characteristics of the site and the enlightening teaching philosophy, we challenge the scenario of a common podium kindergarten. We would like to make this kindergarten a community within a community. Instead of box-like classrooms with enclosing walls, we put half-height village houses around a Central Plaza, all behind full transparent glass partitions. When you pass by the kindergarten, it is like a village in a city.
Research: The podium is of high headroom. Multiple levels are provided to make full use of the height. A climbing wall, a birdhouse hung on a column and a sky walkway connected to a slide is designed for kids to explore, to move up and down experiencing the kindergarten from different angles.
Columns are regarded as features to add value to space, not as obstacles. The column at entrance is turned into a chimney of a village house while the central column symbolizes a tree by the attachment of a birdhouse.
Inspiration: Hong Kong is a Vertical City. Kindergarten in podium of a tower building is common. Kids study in boxes called classrooms. Decoration is colorful, sometimes too colorful.
The teaching philosophy of the kindergarten is Reggio. The two main concepts are kids as active constructor of knowledge and encourage them to be part of a big community.
Thanks to the special characteristics of the site and the enlightening teaching philosophy, we challenge the scenario of a common podium kindergarten by studying: Scale of City vs Scale of Village, Scale of Rooms vs Scale of Podium & Scale of Teacher vs Scale of Kids.
Project Duration: The project is located in the podium of a typical podium & tower building in Hong Kong. Thanks to the special characteristic of the site, we challenge the scenario of a common podium kindergarten. The project completed in February 2018.
Team Members: YUNG Chung Kwong, CHIU Hang Mei Mary Grace
Image Credits: cocoon architecture ltd.