Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola by Cocoon Architecture Ltd.

Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola by Cocoon Architecture Ltd. is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award de Ferro in Design de Espaços Interiores e Exposições Competition Category.

FerroInterior· 2020

Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola

by Cocoon Architecture Ltd.

Client: Cocoon Architecture Ltd

A' Design Award de Ferro Winner in Interior Category

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The Design

About Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola

A Kendall International é um interior de pré-escola situado no embasamento de um edifício-torre em Hong Kong. As salas de aula em forma de caixa foram substituídas por casas de aldeia de meia altura dispostas em torno de uma praça central. A praça aproveita o pé-direito elevado do embasamento e inclui uma parede de escalada, uma casa de pássaros assente sobre uma coluna, uma passarela elevada e um escorrega. Aberturas ligam as salas de aula tranquilas à praça movimentada. Materiais naturais simples em tons de branco e madeira compõem um cenário sereno. A distribuição do espaço favorece a aprendizagem através da exploração e um sentido de comunidade.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ferro

Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola conquistou o A' Design Award de Ferro, um reconhecimento prestigiado atribuído a bons designs que cumprem os requisitos profissionais e industriais esperados de criações bem concebidas. Os vencedores do Ferro demonstram grande habilidade, elevada especialização, compreensão especializada e capacidade criativa dos seus criadores. Espera-se que Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola seja uma criação muito considerada, admirada e estimada, prática e inovadora. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Ferro integra as melhores práticas do setor e tem características técnicas competentes associadas a conhecimento especializado e talento. Pela sua minúcia, Kendall International Design de Interiores de Pré-Escola merece respeito e destina-se a proporcionar melhorias na qualidade de vida que ajudam a tornar o mundo num lugar melhor.

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.