DUstudio designs interactive, inspiring NYC kids club in shijiazhuang

DUstudio has created the new york kids club (NYC kids club) in shijiazhuang, china as an interactive, educational and inspiring early learning center. the playful design is inspired by the colorful tangram toy, a popular game that places multiple polygons on specific orientations to perfectly complete the composition. here, the concept informs the design of each room as if different geometrical shapes that have been de-assembled and expanded. it pushes the boundaries of interactivity by treating the space as a responsive musical instrument.

all images courtesy of DUstudio

the shanghai-based interior and spatial design company DUstudio strives to design spaces that are elegant, engaging, functional and, above all, cutting-edge in approach. their design for the NYC kids club in shijiazhuang follows the same mission. the school focuses on music and art, and devotes 900² meters of space to these classes as well as cooking, dancing and two gym areas. each classroom has been built as an interactive, fun, inspiring, and healthy environment for kids aged 0-3 years old.

located within a shopping mall, at the entrance area of the NYC kids club, a double-layered space has been designed for families to park their shopping carts. visitors come across a large purple cushion that can literally be used for performances, like dancing and singing. a sensor system has been integrated within the soft cushions to trigger various sounds. farm animal noises, letters and numbers sound out as the child jumps, steps or skips across the feature. it creates meaningful associations through the use of body movement and aural stimuli.

a large tree-house playground dominates the center of the club. it welcomes and introduces the child to the school in more ways than one. the play area builds upon children’s curiosity as well as promotes social skills as they play together. it provides the foundation for the new learning experiences at the club.

in the passage way towards the art classroom, a transparent space is divided into two functional areas which have been color-coded in purple and orange to match the company’s brand identity. one side has been designed for teaching, and the other is configured for play activities. children can draw on the glass triangular-shaped walls to transform them into new artworks each and every day. furthermore, paper drawings can be clipped on to the chandeliers to add another playful yet personal touch to the area.

as one approaches the kitchen, the physical design once again adapts to become an extension of the school’s interactivity. partitions made of acrylic tubes cascade down from the ceiling towards the floor. a triangle space at the front of the kitchen can be utilized ritualistically as it allows teachers to reward students with extracts – mostly fruit – from these tubes. they intend to be a more healthier version of the staple gingerbread house.

a small set of stairs can be playfully and safely climbed to reach the two gym spaces. here, wall panels inside the gymnasiums can be rearranged to fit the class’ needs and activities, like a big toy. the open space becomes opportunity for countless activities, where a large range of differently-sized soft objects can be integrated into the play.

the walls of the music classroom are randomly spotted with triangular windows. sound speakers are embedded into these to emit a mix of intriguing aural content to perk the children’s curiosity. a mini triangular-shaped stage has been placed at the center of one end of the room so that the little stars can perform.

the concept of the dance classroom is to have a space that moves together with its participants. with a translucent curtain, people on the outside can view the dancing silhouettes, transforming the design of the space itself as a direct extension of the participants’ actions. with the addition of interactive visual content projected on the curtain, the viewers can enjoy a mix of real and animated motions that constantly move and change throughout the day.

finally, the ‘five senses corners’ have been added in the design of the NYC kids club. these space additions are intended to enhance children’s explorative needs by triggering certain narratives and stimuli by utilizing a range of compositions of selected materials and media systems.

for the NYC kids club in shijiazhuang, china, DUstudio’s design matches their fundamental approach of exploratory spatial design with a focus on play and learning. students can form new habits through playful interactions and meaningful, creative experiences. for example, rewarding noises sound when certain activities are completed correctly like when washing hands and flushing in the bathroom. the design becomes a learning support; the space acts as an extension of creativity and vice versa.

floor plan of the DUstudio-designed NYC kids club in shijiazhuang, china