Shucun Kindergarten by Architectural Design Research Institute of SCUT: Coastal-Inspired Rural Education in Yangjiang

Shucun Kindergarten, designed by the Architectural Design Research Institute of SCUT, is a pioneering educational facility located in the seaside village of Shaba Town, near the scenic Moon Bay in western Guangdong Province. Occupying a site of 4,567 square meters, with a total built area of 4,405 square meters, this rural kindergarten is designed to bridge the educational gap between urban and rural communities, promoting high-quality preschool education in Yangxi County.

Architecture and Design Concept

The design emphasizes simplicity, purity, and harmony with nature, seamlessly integrating the kindergarten into the surrounding village environment. The architecture comprises modular square volumes arranged to emulate natural growth, connected by elevated corridors that define the site boundaries. These clean, white forms resonate with the surrounding box-like village houses, establishing a sense of continuity and belonging.

Drawing inspiration from the coastal environment, the kindergarten incorporates design elements evocative of wind, waves, and sails. Curved gables mimic sea breezes, while second-floor corridors feature flowing, organic shapes inspired by marine ripples and biological curves. The main teaching spaces adopt a fishbone modular layout, echoing local rural architecture while creating a dynamic, functional educational environment.

Functional Layout

The facility includes 12 classrooms for daily activities, alongside specialized rooms for music, physical education, art, science, and reading. Large glass windows bring in abundant natural light and offer expansive views, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces and enhancing spatial transparency. Semi-outdoor and outdoor play areas encourage active exploration, fostering creativity, imagination, and physical development.

Elevated corridors not only connect different functional modules but also provide sheltered ground-level spaces for play and social interaction. This design strategy addresses the region’s hot, rainy summers and frequent typhoons, ensuring continuous activity for children while improving natural ventilation and enhancing the local microclimate.

Sustainability and Local Materials

Sustainability and passive energy efficiency are central to the design. The building employs locally available materials and a reliable frame structure, keeping construction costs low while ensuring durability. Passive energy-saving strategies include solid east-west gables, south-facing eaves to minimize solar gain, and elevated, ventilated corridors. Existing vegetation is retained to provide shade and comfort, creating a safe, healthy, and environmentally conscious learning environment.

The kindergarten’s thoughtful combination of modular forms, coastal design references, and practical climate solutions earned it the 2023 IDA International Design Award Silver Prize in the Education category, marking it as a model for rural preschool architecture in China.

Contextual Integration

Shucun Kindergarten is positioned at the center of a typical rural village, surrounded by self-built homes and narrow roads. The main entrance is strategically set back 17 meters from the intersection of two village streets, ensuring safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation while providing a welcoming waiting area for parents. This careful urban integration reflects a deep understanding of local life and community needs.

By merging modern architectural techniques with the cultural and natural context of Guangdong’s coastline, Shucun Kindergarten establishes a new benchmark for rural educational facilities, promoting quality learning experiences for children while respecting the local heritage and natural environment.

All photographs are works of Mian Xu