Family Box in Beijing : SAKO Architects

Architects: SAKO Architects

Location: Beijing, Beijing, China
Architect In Charge: Keiichiro SAKO, Kumiko Fukasawa
Area: 4150.0 sqm
Year: 2013
Photographs: Ruijing Photo

Constructer: Shenzhen Weiye Decoration Group

Client: Beijing Family Box

From the architect. FAMILY BOX in Beijing is an early childhood education center located in the
residential area of Beijing CBD. The design of the center was developed from a concept of
colorful trees; the final design reflects this in an abstract and playful way.

The public program of the center is distributed over the three stories of the building. The main
entrance is at the ground floor together with the centers three childrens swimming pools. The
second and third floors are home to 15 separate class and activity rooms including a kitchen, a
supermarket, a music room, a dance room, a cafeteria and an indoor exercise and play area.

Twelve large colorful cylinders divide the space on the second and third floors. Placed
seemingly at random these cylinders, and the interstitial spaces they define become the
different rooms and activities within the center. The different colors, the variations of free form
curved openings, and the inclined walls of the cylinders strengthen the playful atmosphere of
the center.

A central corridor links to all the cylinders and provides a space on the third floor where children
can see all the different forms, openings and inclined walls of the trees.

White finishes and worm-lighting have been employed throughout the center allowing the
cheerfully colored themes to play feature roles in the space.

The center provides an optimal educational environment where children can engage in a great
variety of activities and enrich their imaginations. The variation of spaces creates a joyful and
pleasant space that stimulates the curiosity of children.