Courtyard Kindergarten, Beijing Pre-School Building, Architecture Images
Courtyard Kindergarten in Beijing
Pre-School Building Development, China – design by MAD Architects
19 Nov 2018
Courtyard Kindergarten
Design: MAD Architects
Location: Beijing, China
Courtyard Kindergarten
MAD Transforms Traditional Chinese Courtyard Into a Kindergarten With Floating Roof

MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, reveals its design for ?Courtyard Kindergarten? in Beijing. Located on the site of a traditional siheyuan courtyard that dates back to 1725, MAD?s scheme inserts a new building that protects the existing buildings, and also restores them for use. The design features a dynamic floating roof that surrounds the historic courtyard. While preserving the cultural heritage of the site, it forms a multi-layered urban narrative, where old and new co-exist.
?There is a saying in old Beijing when children are naughty: ?if you go three days without being punished, the roof will cave in,? says MAD principal, Ma Yansong.

Playing on this, MAD envisions the rooftop of the ?Courtyard Kindergarten? as a place full of magic ? a playful escape for the children that is a symbol of freedom and endless imagination.

Unfolding onto the site with a low and gentle posture, the roof transforms the limited space between the various buildings, into a colorful playground that functions as the main place for children to engage in outdoor sports and activities. On the southwest side of the roof, a subtl...