A kindergarten is a place to learn through play whereas a daycare centre cares for young children for the duration of an adult’s work-day. Many of us remember our first experience of early childhood education as a less than enjoyable one, for some it was a fearful departure from the familiar and ‘safe’ environment of home.
This was our main design objective when we were commisioned to renovate the former international school in Bintulu. We aimed to ‘rescue’ the children from this situation by creating a scheme that is able to leave a positive lasting impression for the children. In child psychology, good impressions help to develop relationships to a place - a positive first impression often leads to cohesion, which grows into familiarity that eventually becomes a sense of security in the child.
We drew inspiration from the activities of the town and people, and extracted many elements from this industrial oil and gas town and adapted their forms as playscape in the courtyard. So that the kindergarten will bear impressions of Bintulu. Similarly, Sarawak’s lush forests and natural environment were reflected in the interior spaces - to modulate the learning environment, to calm their minds and spirits and hopefully leave a good memory for their future.