Beijing studio SAKO Architects used all the colours of the rainbow for the playgrounds, classrooms and roof garden of this doughnut-shaped kindergarten in Tianjin, China (+ slideshow).
Led by Japanese architect Keiichiro Sako, SAKO Architects designed the Loop Kindergarten as a squashed circular volume where every room is curved and even the windows have rounded corners.
A total of 18 shades make up the rainbow colour palette, which graduates around the building including across the ceilings and around the windows.
The kindergarten is three storeys high with classrooms arounds its perimeter and playgrounds at its centre. These include an open-air deck on the first floor, while the ground floor contains a split-level indoor playground filled with colourful columns and tiered platforms.
Glass funnels bring light down onto the lower floor, creating three circular courtyards that can be used for different activities.
A huge arch slices through the side of the building to create a grand entrance, where symmetrical staircases lead up to the first-floor courtyard. A circular lightwell is positioned directly above, bringing a shaft of light over the heads of anyone passing through.
Artificial grass covers the looping roof to create an extra play area for the children. Four outdoor staircases lead up to it, each coloured in a different hue.
See more kindergartens on Dezeen, including one with rotating panels on the facade and one with pyramidal chimneys.
Photography is by Ruijing Photo.
Here's some more information from SAKO Architects:
This kindergarten is formed by curves. R-shaped windows with rounded corners are used to create the atmosphere of freedom and pleasant.
Each playroom on the 3rd floor faces towards to a balcony, with the staircase by which children can go up to the roof garden. Various colours are used on the walls, floors and handrails of the balconies; this is one of the main feature of this kindergarten.
Walking up to the 2nd floor through the public stairs at the main entrance there is a outdoor courtyard, with all of the classrooms facing towards it. The whole courtyard is in the visible range for most adults. This is is a wonderful space for children to play and enjoy the fresh air.
Also under the outdoor courtyard there is an indoor courtyard for multi-purpose uses. It has 3 rounded atriums connecting to the outdoor space on upper level for better natural lighting and for creating a indoor playing space for children in bad weather condition.
The ceiling on each floor is in 18 different colours, with white louver boards under the ceiling. The colour changing can been seen through the gaps between the louver boards when walking in the corridor. Also there are 18 different colour columns in the courtyard, the children can use these colours to identify the location.
Project Name: LOOP in Tianjin
Project Location: Tianjin, China
Project Type: Kindergarten
Architect/s: Keiichiro SAKO, Yoko FUJII, Jing, Junya KAZUNO/ SAKO Architects
Lighting Design: Masahide Kakudate Lighting Architect & Associates,Inc.
Client: Sino-Ocean Land Holdings Limited
Size: 3 stories
Gross floor area: 4,300 sqm
Design Period: 2009/06-2011/03
Construction Period: 2011/04-2012/07
