Atelier Alter’s Number 12 Middle School

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Atelier Alter

Number 12 Middle School by Atelier Alter in Beijing is not only a kindergarten but a gigantic contemporary artwork of colour and light.

Situated in China’s Fengtai, this kindergarten is definitely the most colourful in Beijing. The building’s rehabilitation project saw the old building transformed into a playful work of art that makes for an arresting contrast against the concrete jungle it is surrounded by. The school boasts clean lines and large pop-up blocks of primary colour that jut out from the various sides of the building in a two-dimensional splash of brightness. At night, two sides of the coloured volumes light up, making for a subtle and unique night-time show.

Inspired by children’s building blocks and the way they see the world in general, the building intends to create a dialogue with kids through primary colours and colourful spaces to encourage them to explore shapes, spaces and colours in their world of imagination and play. Interiors see a cleverly purposeful use of colour: blue is used for the nursery, green for toddlers and orange for pre-school kids, intending to emphasise different levels of calmness or activeness within the various age groups.

To view more of Atelier Alter’s work, visit their website.

(h/t) archdaily.com