SanHe Kindergarten Brick Facade: Jiadu Project Record
Review the SanHe Kindergarten brick facade by OBRA Architects, separating verified project facts from LOPO’s custom brick production account.
Historical archive: product availability, standards and event information may have changed. Contact LOPO for current specifications.The SanHe Kindergarten brick facade wraps a faceted, south-facing arc around a large playground and garden. OBRA Architects and independent architecture records identify the completed 2017 project as SanHe Kindergarten. LOPO’s 2017 post calls it Jiadu Kindergarten and reports supplying customised clay facing bricks. This page preserves both names while separating independently verified architecture from LOPO’s company-reported product scope.
The original URL contains the misspelling “kindergarden.” It must remain unchanged to avoid a redirect break, but the visible title, headings and text use “kindergarten.”
Project Identity and Evidence Levels
| Field | Record | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|
| Current project name | SanHe Kindergarten | OBRA Architects and independent architectural publication |
| Alias in LOPO archive | Jiadu Kindergarten | Company wording; relationship is plausible but should remain recorded as an alias |
| Location | OBRA and ArchDaily identify Beijing or its outskirts; LOPO says Sanhe Yanjiao Jiadu near Beijing | Municipal boundary and exact address are not reconciled in the available sources |
| Architect | OBRA Architects | Primary architect source; the original LOPO claim of joint design with China Architectural Design Group was not independently confirmed |
| Completion and area | Completed 2017; ArchDaily reports 5,550 m² | Independent project record; this is building floor area, not brick area |
| Material and LOPO scope | Independent sources identify brick; LOPO reports customised clay facing-brick production | Brick is independently supported, while LOPO supply and processing remain company-reported |
Resolve SanHe, Jiadu and the Location Wording
Project records often acquire different English names as they move between architect, developer, supplier and media websites. Here, “SanHe Kindergarten” is the strongest public project identity because it is used by OBRA Architects. “Jiadu” should be retained as the LOPO archive alias and as a search bridge, not substituted into official credits without a project record.
The location wording also needs care. Architecture sources place the project in Beijing or on its outskirts; LOPO specifies Sanhe Yanjiao Jiadu, an area close to Beijing. A current portfolio entry should request the official postal address and client record before asserting one jurisdiction.
A Faceted Arc Creates a Child-Scale Outdoor Room
OBRA describes a wide south-facing arc that embraces the playground. The building’s repeated windows form a regular background, while exterior stairs and terraces interrupt that order and connect classrooms with outdoor learning areas. Breaking the long mass into angled segments helps the perimeter define one shared space without reading as a single flat institutional wall.
The pale brick field reinforces continuity across those facets. Window reveals, stair landings, terrace edges, corners and changes in wall direction become the important details. Their visual clarity depends on coordinated modules, cuts, joint rhythm, substrate tolerances, movement and water management—not on colour alone.
What LOPO Reports About the Custom Brick
A separate LOPO China process article says the facing bricks received two additional surface operations: a trace was pressed by hand after forming, and the fired face was then sanded. This is more precise than the original claim that every brick was “made by hand after extrusion.” It describes a company-reported finish-development route, not independent proof that every installed unit followed the same procedure.
No public source reviewed here gives an item number, brick length, height, thickness, tolerance, clay-body reference, finish code, quantity, facade area, packing record, installer or acceptance sample. Those fields should remain “not published,” rather than being inferred from joints or photographs.
Building Area Is Not Brick Quantity
ArchDaily reports a total building area of 5,550 m² and capacity for 540 children. Neither figure describes the brick-clad elevation. A procurement quantity would require coordinated elevations, openings, returns, parapets, bases, terraces, cuts, waste rules and a stated take-off method.
The original article’s “nearly 20,000 m²” residential-community statement conflicts with independent descriptions of a much larger surrounding development and should not be retained. It is unrelated to the kindergarten’s brick area in any event.
Design Awards Do Not Certify the Brick
OBRA’s published profile attributes a 2014 AIA New York Design Merit Award and a 2014 Kim Swoo Geun Preview Prize to SanHe Kindergarten. Those design recognitions predate the recorded 2017 completion. They do not verify LOPO supply, brick performance, construction quality, current product availability or regulatory compliance. The original Venice Biennale statement is omitted because it was not confirmed in the reviewed primary record.
Recreate the Character Through Samples and Interfaces
Begin with the current terracotta brick range. If an irregular aged surface is required, use the brick texture selection guide to define physical range samples rather than copying a photograph.
- Confirm complete unit dimensions, edges, finish process, colour range, tolerances and intended exterior use.
- Coordinate substrate, bonding or support, joints, movement, corners, openings, terraces, flashings and base details.
- Build a representative mock-up containing repeated windows, one change of plane and one stair or terrace interface.
- Review colour and texture in relevant light, then record sample IDs, exclusions, repair rules and approval authority.
- Match deliveries to labels, approved ranges, quantities and documents using the terracotta tile inspection checklist adapted to the selected brick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Jiadu Kindergarten and SanHe Kindergarten the same project?
LOPO’s images and description align with OBRA’s SanHe project, so Jiadu is retained as an archive alias. Formal project records should confirm the naming relationship.
Was the project completed in 2014?
No. Independent sources report 2017 completion. The 2014 dates refer to design awards.
What LOPO brick item and size were used?
No item number, unit dimensions, brick area or quantity is published in the reviewed sources.
Does hand finishing prove durability or compliance?
No. Finish processing, product performance and project compliance require separate current documents and evidence.
Discuss a Comparable Kindergarten Facade
Review related examples in the LOPO project gallery. Send the elevations, substrate, brick geometry, finish reference, interface details, evidence requirements, quantity, destination and programme through the project enquiry page.
