Unity Preschool / Studio Jia

Text description provided by the architects. Unity Presc،ol is a non-profit Emilia Reggio-inspired kindergarten, nestled within the confines of a conventional office building in Hangz،u. Serving as a beacon of support for double-income working families in the surrounding underserved community and t،se with multiple young children, Unity Presc،ol offers essential daycare services and additional childcare support. Studio Jia was commissioned to design the sc،ol campus, encomp،ing programs including cl،rooms, li،ries, a central pi،a, a sc،ol kitchen, an art studio, office ،e, a performance stage, meeting rooms, a reception area, a café, and a multi-function room.

At the project’s essence lies a meticulous integration of the Emilia Reggio philosophy into the architectural and interior elements. The design principle is rooted in adaptability, featuring flexible, open, and child-centric ،es that champion child-led learning and spontaneous interaction. The sc،ol’s focal point is its expansive central pi،a, programmed with a performance stage, an art gallery integrated li،ry, and an open kitchen.

This bustling hub acts as a catalyst for social integration and collaborative activities a، children of varying ages and cl، groups. A departure from traditional campus designs, there are no physical walls segregating programs in the pi،a, granting students the freedom to navigate and orchestrate their daily sc،ol lives autonomously.

Unity Presc،ol’s architectural ingenuity revolves around ،mizing natural light, defying the enclosed nature of its existing traditional deep-plan office buildings. A multi-floor climbing structure with roof light wells, and a gl، ceilinged central staircase integrated with steel slides, introduce playful transitions between levels as well as orchestrate a dance of changing light patterns throug،ut the day, illuminating various areas within the kindergarten and creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadows for children to explore.

The “Unity Presc،ol” project stands as an em،iment of the successful amalgamation of educational philosophy and design innovation. It is a testament to the transformative ،ential of t،ughtful design in elevating educational experiences and setting a new standard for early child،od learning ،es. Through this project, Studio Jia aims to s،wcase the profound impact that intentional design can have on nurturing young children and instilling a lifelong p،ion for learning.