Farming Kindergarten: A Green Revolution in Educational Spaces

VTN Architects' Sustainable Design Wins Golden A' Design Award

The Farming Kindergarten was inspired by the growing disconnect between children and nature in Vietnam due to rapid economic development. The architects sought to counter this trend by creating a space that naturally connects children with nature. The aim was to educate a generation of "Green-men" who would carry forward their knowledge and experience of sustainable living and agriculture.

This kindergarten, built for 500 pre-school children of a Taiwanese shoe factory, stands out due to its unique green roof. The roof, designed in a triple-ring shape, creates three courtyards that serve as safe playgrounds. The roof also doubles up as a farm, providing an experimental learning space for the children. The building's design incorporates passive methods, making it a prototype of sustainable education spaces in tropical climates.

The kindergarten was constructed using natural, local materials and low-tech solutions like reinforced concrete and site precast concrete louvers. The site area measures 10,650 m2, while the gross floor area is 3,800 m2. The project was completed in October 2013 in Dong Nai province, Vietnam.

Key members of the design team included Vo Trong Nghia, Takashi Niwa, Masaaki Iwamoto, Tran Thi Hang, and Kuniko Onishi. The project's success is a testament to their collective vision and commitment to sustainable design.

The Farming Kindergarten's innovative design and focus on sustainability earned it the Golden A' Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. It honors products and ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.