Bengaluru, India
Designed by Education Design Architects, Kai Early Years is not just a building for early childhood education, it is an experience.
Located in Whitefield, an urban neighborhood in Bengaluru that is home to a community of young professionals hailing from all parts of the world, Kai Early Years is spread over 1.8 acres – currently India’s largest early childhood campus.
The campus consists of two independently functioning departments: The Learning Centre and the Community Centre – a large shaded play court between these two buildings forms the functional and social heart of the campus.
Curvilinear patterns guide the child to the school building through a variety of experiences such as the sound and sensory garden, climbing structures and mounds, and the herb and kitchen garden.
Indigenous flowering plants and trees offer a seasonal burst of color.
These, along with the fruit trees that are planted along the compound wall are an integral part of the outdoor learning experience.
The sensory walkway with various patterns and textures stimulates the child’s senses, thereby enhancing brain development.
The community center and the early childhood center are planned around a central open play area that is covered by membrane roofing so that is it usable throughout the year.
At the same time, entries to the two buildings are independent and distinct, keeping in mind security, safety, and functional requirements.
The design team has been very mindful in providing indoor and outdoor spaces for exploration and play.
Various learning zones include the manipulative zone, cognitive zone, reading zone, and story-telling zone to name a few.
The outdoor learning deck is an extension of the indoor spaces, which makes it second nature to teachers and children to shift between the indoors and outdoors.
Active play includes a multi-play structure, climbing hex, balancing beam, stepping pods, and rock-climbing wall, spinners, climbers, water play structure, and an athletic track.
Kids can even use their imagination to assemble a play structure of their own.
Project: KAI Early Years
Architects: Education Design Architects
Design Team: Mugdha Thakurdesai, Shanti Jamoh, Abhishek Chopra, and Sagar Vijaynidhi
Landscape Architects: SEED Engineering Consultants
Client: KAI Early Years
Photographers: Andre Fanthome
