Shortlisted for civic building of the year at Dezeen Awards 2020, Courtyard Kindergarten has a red rooftop that surrounds a historic Chinese courtyard and acts as a playground in Beijing.

The studio has preserved and transformed a traditional siheyuan courtyard into a contemporary education space.

The traditional siheyuan courtyard, dating back to 1725, has been transformed into a free and open contemporary learning space that creates a dialogue between old and new.

The kindergarten's open-concept layout offers an inclusive learning environment with no boundaries or obstacles.

Designed around the old courtyard, the new construction opens up towards the historic buildings, offering children alternating views between old and new, forming a multi-layered urban narrative that deepens their understanding of time and dimension.

Architect: MAD
Project: Courtyard Kindergarten
Read more on Dezeen: MAD