An international competition for a preschool for 400 children + staff in the town of Ruichang outside Shanghai. The brief called for a floor space ration of 2:1 and above ground parking. Our response was to avoid stairs via a gently ramping spiral that achieved the floor space requirement and allowed parking to be hidden under a central courtyard. The main volume is only half-tempered, keeping rain and wind out but generally maintaining outdoor temperatures to create an indoor-outdoor environment. Prefabricated acoustically and thermally insulated 'home-rooms' provide respite for the children when required, resulting in massive energy savings over the building's lifespan.