Exploration of Influential Architectural Factors in Kindergarten

Early childhood education consists of activities and experiences that are intended to effect developmental changes in children prior to their entry into elementary school. The overall effectiveness of an early childhood program is dependent upon several factors such as quality staff, an appropriate environment, proper grouping practices, consistent scheduling, and parental involvement. Early childhood education could procreate substantial benefit in learning and development on children. Because of the potential benefits to children, some people support the idea to promote innovation, creativity and sustainability in the design of space for children. The present thesis focuses on the Exploration of Influential Architectural Factors on Children‘s Learning Outcome: Toward High Performance Kindergartens. To reach this goal, philosophies of early education studied and analyzed, practical implication of early childhood education including effective learning spaces, high performance kindergartens studied and analyzed. Bases on literature survey a pilot interview with selected members of Department of Architecture at EMU were conducted. This selection was based on their involvement in Kindergarten design projects and personal experiences with kindergartens as parents. The multi perspective of interviewees prepared a valuable platform in re-analyzing the literature, evaluating and studying selected cases and developing criteria. As general findings, this study presented a list of parameters to be considered through designing kindergarten which are beyond the regular standards. These parameters should be ideologically fitted in to the concept and developed in process of design to reach high performance building not only technologically, but also psychologically and functionally.