beijing-based architecture firm crossboundaries introduces the beisha kindergarten, a ?second home? for the left-behind children. the project was initially commissioned by the local government of jiangsu, china, as the region currently faces a shortage of preschool education. this initiative places jiangsu as the first province in china to accelerate the development of high-quality education for young children throughout both its urban and rural areas. while the area is historically well-known for its tradition of advocating education, culture and morality, the county?s agricultural industry dominates the economy and land area. the construction of dwellings and non-agricultural architecture are thus rarely prioritized.

all images by wu qingshan, hao hongyi, and mini liu  
 
upon approaching the crossboundaries-designed kindergarten, visitors are greeted by an endless expanse of fertile plains, the horizon blurred by the mist. this flat, boundless landscape defines the condition of most of rural jiangsu. this overwhelming flatness disintegrates slightly upon entering the village whose fabric comprises two to three story houses with pitched roofs and brick facades. in conversation with this language and organization, crossboundaries designs the beisha kindergarten as a ?mini village,? a broken down or subdivided volume expressed as a cluster of small buildings surrounding a centralized, multifunctional open area. to the design team, this integration of the exterior and in...