Buildner is excited to announce the results of the Kinderspace Competition!
This is the first edition of an annual international competition inviting architects, designers, and educators to rethink the design of early childhood learning spaces.
Participants were challenged to create innovative environments that foster creativity, exploration, and well-being for young children. The goal was to move beyond conventional classroom models and propose spaces that enhance learning through architecture, integrating playfulness, flexibility, and engagement with nature.
Entrants had the freedom to select a theoretical site, allowing them to tailor their designs to local cultural and environmental contexts. Key considerations included spatial adaptability, natural lighting, material selection, and sensory stimulation—elements that contribute to a child’s cognitive and emotional development. The competition aimed to highlight how thoughtful architectural design can create enriching and inspiring educational spaces for the youngest learners.
The Kinderspace Competition jury featured a distinguished panel of architects and designers with diverse expertise: Jake Heffington, founder and Principal of …and other works, architectural professor of practice at North Carolina State University, and recipient of the 2022 AIA NC Young Architect Award; Danielle Reimers, Principal at SAOTA, with extensive experience in international design competitions and sustainable architectural practices, formerly with Renzo Piano Building Workshop; Jan Vondrák, co-founder of the renowned Czech studio Mjölk, known for its innovative and context-driven designs; and Edward Weysen, co-founder of WE-S architects, a Belgian firm recognized for its award-winning projects blending architecture and landscape. Their collective expertise brought valuable insight to the competition, evaluating submissions for their creativity, functionality, and impact on early childhood learning environments.
The first prize was awarded to Jardin Buenos Aires by Agustin Azar, Egor Gaydukov, and Santiago Barral from Germany. This community-focused kindergarten is seamlessly integrated into an urban park, featuring sustainable materials, a central courtyard, and nature-based play areas.
The second prize was awarded to Jona Paul Hermann Schulte and Karim Elghor from Germany. Their design is a flexible, child-centric space that prioritizes sustainability, acoustics, and spatial connectivity, fostering both education and community interaction.
The third prize and student award were given to Wanderland by Yanjun Xu and Jingyi Jiang from China. Their nature-inspired kindergarten features solar-powered classrooms, adaptable learning spaces, and a multi-sensory garden. The sustainability award was presented to Zirui Wang and Pengcheng Yang from Australia. Their modular, eco-conscious design is inspired by indigenous wisdom and integrates natural play environments and sustainable energy solutions.
Buildner and its jury extend their gratitude to all participants for their creative and thoughtful contributions. We congratulate the winners on their outstanding designs and look forward to seeing how innovative architecture can shape the future of early childhood education.
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1st Place
Jardin Buenos Aires
Agustin Azar, Egor Gaydukov, Santiago Barral
Germany
“We participate in architectural competitions because they offer a unique platform to push the boundaries of traditional architecture. They allow us to engage with new challenges, explore innovative design solutions, and collaborate with other professionals.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
The project, situated in an urban park in Buenos Aires, encompasses a multi-functional community hub designed to integrate seamlessly with the surrounding environment. It includes indoor spaces totaling 895 sqm and outdoor areas of 1500 sqm, aimed at fostering community engagement through versatile, nature-integrated design.
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2nd Place
New Play Between Old Walls
Jona Paul Hermann Schulte, Karim Elghor
Germany
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Participating in architecture competitions is a creative outlet without the restrictions usually applied in our daily work life. While fulfilling and challenging in the best way, the architectural practice is often hampered by monetary, legal and mental boundaries. Creating designs for competitions like these enables us to freely express our ideas and ideals. In a way it fulfills our dream to participate in the global discourse. And paint pretty pictures.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
The project integrates sustainable and child-centric design principles into a multi-functional community center. The design includes flexible spaces to accommodate educational and community activities, with special attention to acoustics and natural light to enhance learning environments. Construction incorporates environmentally friendly materials and technologies, focusing on energy efficiency and low environmental impact.
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3rd Place + Buildner Student Award
Wander-Land
Yanjun Xu, Jingyi Jiang
China
“We participate in architecture competitions as an opportunity to showcase our ideas and push the boundaries of our creativity. These competitions provide a platform for us to experiment with innovative design concepts while addressing real-world challenges. At the same time, they serve as a valuable learning experience, helping us refine our skills, improve our problem-solving abilities, and gain deeper insights into architectural thinking. It is both a chance for self-improvement and a way to contribute fresh perspectives to the field.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
‘Wanderland’ integrates advanced environmental design with specialized learning spaces for children. The facility includes rooftop solar panels for sustainable power, ventilated and naturally lit classrooms promoting a healthy learning environment, and flexible furniture arrangements to adapt to various educational activities.
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Buildner Sustainability Award
A Garden Between Land and Sky
Zirui Wang, Pengcheng Yang
Australia
“Competitions are a playground for the mind. They give us a stage to try out bold ideas and challenge conventional design approaches. Also, we want to be heard. It’s where we can express our architectural vision freely and participate in global design conversations.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
This project presents a harmonious integration of architecture with the natural environment, inspired by indigenous wisdom and designed to foster a connection between children and the Australian landscape. Located in Melbourne, the facility boasts modular design elements and environmentally friendly materials. It includes interactive, educational spaces that encourage exploration and sensory engagement with nature.
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HONORABLE MENTION
The Sense Forest
Ivan Fernando Lopez Velez
Colombia
“Architecture competitions provide teams with the opportunity to explore and challenge their creativity, allowing us to step outside the conventional limits that often restrict our ideas. These experiences enable us to experiment in innovative and unconventional ways, pushing us to think beyond established norms. Additionally, participating in competitions helps us refine our skills in a highly competitive environment while also creating opportunities to showcase our company’s work and position ourselves within the industry. Our goal is always to contribute to the development of architecture and social well-being, making a positive impact by seeking solutions that are not only innovative but also effectively address society’s needs.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Wikido Kindergarten
Mohammadhadi Motevali Haghigi, Reihaneh Amirian, Melika Abachi Mashhadi, Asal Azghandi
United States
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HONORABLE MENTION
Reclaiming Space for Imagination
Lin Jian Wang, Cici Xi Huang, Dianjun Sun
Canada
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HONORABLE MENTION
Batey
Raquel Lymaris Marrero Maldonado
Puerto Rico
“We participate in architecture competitions because they serve as a valuable team-building exercise, fostering collaboration and creative synergy within our practice. Competitions also provide an opportunity to explore bold ideas that push the boundaries of design and innovation. They allow us to showcase potential solutions for local needs, addressing pressing social, environmental, and cultural challenges. Additionally, these competitions help us refine our design process, engage with diverse perspectives, and contribute to the broader architectural discourse.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Wedge Forest
Yulun Liu, Dongqi Chen
United States
“For our team, architecture competitions are an invaluable opportunity to push our limits and continually enhance our design skills. They challenge us with unique, intricate problems that force us to think creatively and devise inventive solutions beyond conventional boundaries. Unlike typical real-life projects, competitions offer a level of creative freedom that allows us to explore unconventional concepts and experiment with new ideas without the constraints of budget or client expectations. This flexibility not only encourages us to push our creative boundaries but also fosters a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives and skills can merge to redefine the frontiers of design. Ultimately, these competitions help us to innovate, gain fresh insights, and showcase our vision, contributing significantly to our professional growth and the evolution of the architectural field.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
LAGO(RÀ)
Jacopo Camboni
Italy
“I actually participate in architecture competitions because they allow me to explore new, challenging, and fascinating architectural themes and fields. I truly enjoy the emotions I experience while working on a competition: excitement, curiosity, and even a sense of self-criticism. I decided to participate in this architecture competition because, during university, I always wanted to design a kindergarten but never had the chance despite working on many other challenging and interesting buildings. I usually participate as a solo candidate because — since it is an activity I pursue in my spare time — I appreciate having the freedom to reflect on the project without the pressure of the “as soon as possible” deadlines typical of professional environments. Moreover, I believe that working alone can sometimes be beneficial for understanding both your objectives and your weaknesses in design. In fact, being aware of what you can achieve and what you still need to improve is crucial in defining your personal goals in the field of architecture. I see architecture competitions as a “second chance” for a licensed architect to “dream,” just like during university years. At the same time, I strongly believe that they also serve as a way to better understand oneself as an architect. In fact, when working on real projects, we sometimes lose sight of what architecture truly means to us. Competitions have the power to reawaken our inner thoughts and emotions about architectural composition.”
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SHORTLISTED PROJECTS
