Greenterrace Kindergarten, a visionary educational proposal by Chen Yang and Liwei Guo, has been recognized as the Jury Winner in the Institutional – Unbuilt (Schools & Kindergartens) category at the 2026 Architizer A+Awards. Set within the iconic terraced landscape of Yunnan, China, the concept demonstrates how architecture can transform early childhood education by weaving together nature, community, and sustainable design.
A Landmark Achievement at the 2026 Architizer A+Awards
The Architizer A+Awards remains one of the architecture industry’s most influential global recognition programs, celebrating projects that push the boundaries of design excellence. Winning the Jury Award represents the highest distinction within each category, selected from a shortlist of finalists by an international panel of architecture professionals.
For Greenterrace Kindergarten, this recognition acknowledges more than an attractive proposal. It celebrates a design that addresses the social, environmental, and educational challenges facing rural communities while demonstrating how thoughtful architecture can enrich everyday life.
Inspired by Yunnan’s Terraced Landscape
Rather than imposing a building onto its site, the project grows directly from the character of Yunnan’s famous agricultural terraces. Its gently curved, layered architecture mirrors the surrounding landscape, allowing classrooms, activity spaces, rooftop playgrounds, ecological gardens, and community facilities to merge into one continuous spatial experience.
The design also strengthens relationships between children and the local agricultural culture. Farmers’ rest areas, community gathering spaces, and outdoor learning platforms transform the kindergarten into a shared civic destination where education extends beyond school walls and becomes part of everyday village life.
Learning Through Ecology and Architecture
Sustainability is embedded throughout the proposal. Passive ventilation, rooftop solar panels, mist irrigation systems, and stormwater recycling reduce environmental impact while becoming visible teaching tools for young learners. Instead of hiding sustainable technologies, the building allows children to observe and understand how environmental systems function.
This educational approach encourages curiosity through direct experience. Seasonal changes, local farming activities, biodiversity, and climate become part of the daily learning environment, creating meaningful connections between architecture, landscape, and environmental awareness from an early age.
A New Vision for Rural Educational Design
Greenterrace Kindergarten demonstrates how contemporary educational architecture can strengthen both cultural identity and ecological resilience. By responding to local geography instead of replacing it, the proposal offers a model that respects regional traditions while embracing innovative spatial solutions.
The international recognition awarded by the 2026 Architizer A+Awards reinforces the growing importance of context-driven educational architecture. Through Greenterrace Kindergarten, Chen Yang and Liwei Guo present a compelling vision where schools become catalysts for community engagement, environmental stewardship, and lifelong learning rather than isolated educational facilities.
| Technical Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Project | Greenterrace Kindergarten |
| Location | Yunnan, China |
| Lead Designers | Chen Yang, Liwei Guo |
| Award | 2026 Architizer A+Awards Jury Winner |
| Category | Institutional – Unbuilt (Schools & Kindergartens) |
| Project Type | Educational Concept Kindergarten |
| Status | Concept / Unbuilt |
| Project Size | 3,000–5,000 sq ft |
| Key Features | Terraced architecture, rooftop playground, ecological learning, community facilities, passive sustainability |
| Sustainability | Natural ventilation, solar power, mist irrigation, stormwater reuse |
