We are pleased to announce that in a series of international architectural competitions held recently, the school and kindergarten have won a number of prestigious international awards. They include the Muse Design Award and the Golden Bund Award, for our unique design concepts and outstanding design solutions.
Information on
Some of the Awards
As soon as the design was launched, the school attracted great attention locally and in the Greater Bay Area for its futuristic architectural complex. It was featured on Zhongshan TV, Zhongshan Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, Zhongshan King and Yangcheng Evening News.
In a series of international architectural competitions held recently, the school also quickly enhanced its international reputation with our recently completed kindergarten complex. As a popular entry in China and abroad, the school has lived up to its reputation by earning the recognition of highly renowned international organisers. This includes the Muse Design Award and the Golden Bund Award, as well as other distinguished awards!
The MUSE Design Awards, part of the International Awards Association, is a global awards competition that aims to nurture and promote 'design muses' and push design to the next level. The awards are open to a wide range of sectors including architecture, interiors, products and fashion, and are designed to identify and support designers on the rise in all sectors.
With its rigorous judging system and high-quality criteria, MUSE Design Awards attract many of the world's leading property brands and top architectural institutions to participate each year. The awards are graded into Platinum, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold and Nominees. Only those designs with top aesthetics, and forward-thinking concepts have the chance to win its favour.
Since 2005, the Golden Bund Awards have been accompanying the development of China's design industry and leading the way. It has not only brought countless design masterpieces to the industry, but has also contributed to the development of China's interior design industry.
Over 1,200 designers and design companies participated in this year's Golden Bund Awards, with nearly 4,000 entries, reflecting the importance of the award in the minds of designers.
Learn More About
Kindergarten Construction
Mr. Alan Wang, of EVA Architects and former chief designer (education projects) of Perkins-Will, a world-renowned architectural firm, is an Australian and British Royal Certified Architect who served as the chief designer of school. It is developed like it’s own micro-city, to encourage socialisation, creativity, and inclusion all within the Ardingly College Zhongshan campus. Our school spaces serve to empower our students with the core value of using spaces as a platform to enhance global leadership and global competencies.
Rather than pursuing visually bright and figurative architectural concepts, we wanted to create an alternative sensory experience and a rich geometric language for the children through neutral colours, environmentally friendly materials, and abstract elements in the design of the kindergarten.
The kindergarten was designed in four divs to increase the accessibility of each div to the outdoor environment. All divs are connected on the ground floor and form a roof terrace on the second floor. In between the four divs form outdoor courtyards of different sizes and functions. Using the "windmill" as inspiration, the four arc-shaped buildings turn to different directions, allowing children to actively play and explore in an open and transparent environment.
The theme of the building is 'space', aiming to create an imaginative and fun space for children to explore. From the design of the lobby, we have used a rare silver honeycomb aluminium panel to match the Mars orange background. The circular arches and ceiling are also used throughout the lobby to create a sense of a 'space capsule' for the children.
The large ground floor gallery is the kindergarten's public library. With its through-space, bare black roof and starry lights, the space-like novelty of being in space will inspire the initial love of reading in young children.
The skylight design, with its round windows of varying depths, acts as a natural clock. From the first rays of sunlight in the morning to the fading sunset in the evening, the ever-changing views and light remind teachers and students of their daily routines.
The combination of nature and humanity is particularly evident in the design of the classroom. The simplicity of the façade, made up of large floor-to-ceiling windows, is the key to linking the classroom with the natural world. Even within the classroom, the children are able to clearly perceive the subtle changes of the natural seasons as they learn and explore day after day.
The slides that wind down and the climbing wall on the first floor roof terrace are the unique ideas that the designer have found in the layers, floors and gaps. The smooth curved lines and well-designed overall height of the facilities not only ensure the safety of the play, but also cater for the development of gross motor skills of children with different age needs.
The third floor of the Kindergarten has been boldly divided. The progressive height of the space, the simple colour scheme of sky green and space white, and the varying sizes of the windows and doors provide a unique landscape that promotes the development of geometric thinking and provides a quiet, pure and meaningful journey of space creation.
The outdoor areas continue to be designed with a high degree of integration of technology and nature to support the diverse needs of children for learning, communication, movement and relaxation. The large space station on the lawn or the modern running track interspersed with palm trees are open, dynamic areas that become 'dream places' for children to actively learn and explore.
In addition, the outdoor area has been designed with dedicated functional areas as a way to provide children with a rich experience of nature:
Natural exploration and discovery are an integral part of students development. Having an area that is rich in plant, tree, and insect diversity allows students to have a natural and tranquil area to explore or relax.
The drama area features outdoor props, scenes and other equipment to allow students to create outdoor performances. Every child is able to play, develop, and perform.
The unique area is a space for students to explore and discover things in the natural environment through all of their senses. A place with sand, water, and nature all providing the material for students to have a multi sensorial experience.
The quiet reading, reflection, and learning area extends to the outdoor environment and has books, blankets, comfortable chairs, a lounge area with lots of sunshine. It is a perfect area for students to come for a relaxing comfortable space to unwind.
Just as flowing water gives life to mountains, the school buildings gives education a more unique soul. From bottom to top and inside to outside, each area and floor is designed as a cross-border dialogue between technology and nature.
It gives young children the opportunity to create their curiosity, imagination and creativity; provides a platform for them to enrich their knowledge and skills and to enhance their personal character; and takes on the key role of inspiring internal motivation and future global competence.
