Waa has refurbished an existing 1970's warehouse complex for grain storage supported by a transport facility in the north of Beijing.

The space is for a children's healthcare provider specialising in movement development for a broad range of age groups.

Children are often passive in decision-making scenarios and play is the only usually the only time of day which they can control.

The focus for this refurbishment was to address the missing elements of inner-city dwelling, namely a functioning neighbourhood. Balance is taken for granted until challenged, Waa aimed for the building to become a tool for sensory learning. The iconography of the project becomes about the activity, to nudge children to imagine and feel what they see as the limits to their own adventure.

This project has been shortlisted in the landscape project category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Architect: Waa
Project: Back to the Neighbourhood: The Playscape, children's community centre

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Voting closes on 11 October.