UNIS Early Childhood Discovery Centre

The new Discovery Centre at UNIS Hanoi which has doubled the places available for 3-4 year olds is designed as an area appropriate to meet the needs of the youngest children; a “centre” where two defined teaching spaces inhabit an open-plan room with shared learning opportunities and activity zones.

The planning team was composed of two tiers of stakeholders who collaborated with the on-staff Design and Construction Coordinator. The planning and conceptual phases took place entirely in-house.

The facility was required to fit entirely under the existing rain screen roof and within the existing super-structure in a way that didn’t disrupt the continuity of adjacent classrooms or require local authority permission.

Aspirational images from Reggio Emilia nursery schools in Northern Italy seemed in conflict with the constraints that the tight corner site presented. However, an exciting, functional yet organic, concept emerged from the design meetings based on our chosen theme “Bamboo Forest”.

The entire building project, including demolition of some existing rooms, was completed during the 2013 summer vacation – just forty-nine days.

The result is a new space which has increased the possibilities of teaching and learning to meet our pedagogical goals and align with our values of community, learning and responsibility. The natural colour scheme, lighting and floor to ceiling windows has created a bright, close-to-nature atmosphere.

When the dividing partitions open, children can extend their community to encompass the students and adults in the other half of the Discovery Centre.

Facilitating the flow between classrooms has reduced redundancy of repeated learning zones, increased flexibility and opportunities for exploration and interaction. Additionally the use of natural materials, indoor/outdoor spaces and abundant shelving supports our Reggio inspired pedagogy where the environment is the third teacher.

The entrance ‘atelier’ sets the tone; as people enter through a space that resonates with innovation, inquiry and individual expression. Dynamic, bespoke furniture encourages students to make choices and develop self-management skills. They learn first-hand about caring for their environment in the garden area. The front façade is quirky, contemporary and interesting for children without stealing the focus from the discovery spaces within.