NYC Kids Club, Shijiazhuang An Interactive Early Learning Center, by DU Studio Shanghai-based DU Studio is an interior and space design company that operates mainly in China, but also internationally as well, and focuses on the creation and development of spaces that are elegant, engaging, functional, and cutting-edge. In this project, DU Studio designed an early learning center in Shijiazhuang, pushing the boundaries of aesthetics, functionality, and interactivity, and treating the space itself as a responsive instrument. NYC Kids Club is an early learning center originally from New York, whose curriculum is focusing on music/art classes. DU Studio was commissioned to design one of its centers, which consists of an area of 900 square meters and includes art, cooking, music, and dance classrooms, as well as two gym spaces. Through an investigation on the Chinese market and the company’s branding, DU Studio decided to push the boundaries of the traditional teaching space, and build each classroom as interactive, healthy, fun, and inspiring environment that provides unique experiences to the kids, from ages 0-3. The design language inspiration comes from Tangram, a popular game that uses multiple polygons that should be placed on specific location and orientation to perfectly complete the full composition. Therefore, the concept here was to design each room in different geometrical shapes that have been de-assembled and expanded through space; a large toy that assists playing, learning and creativity. The NYC Kids Club is located inside a shopping mall. At the entrance area, a double-layered space has been designed to be utilized by those that carry shopping carts with them. When entering the front door, the visitors come across a large purple cushion stage that can be used for performances (dancing and singing). While jumping and stepping on the soft cushion, a sensing system triggers various sounds linked to a particular theme (such as farm sounds, letters, numbers), allowing them to create meaningful associations through of use of body movements and aural stimuli. At the center of the club, kids and visitors can view a large tree-house playground. The design goal here is to enhance children’s curiosity, as well as their social skills, as through play with others they become more easily integrated into new learning practices and experiences. Proceeding towards the art classroom, we find a quite transparent space, consisting of large glass partitions combined with triangular-shaped walls. The room is divided into two functional areas that have been color-coded in purple and orange, following the company’s branding identity. One side of the space has been designed for teaching, and the other one for playing activities. Children can do graffiti on the transparent glass, transforming the room into a new artwork every day. In addition, the drawings that they create on paper can be added on the chandelier, which results in a playful immersive experience. Going towards the kitchen, children and visitors can witness another highlight of the NYC Kids Club. Partitions made of acrylic tubes contain fruits, intended for consumption (a healthier version than Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house). The design of the space, in a sense, becomes part of the function, an extension of the people’s intentions, and a process of enhancing creativity and imagination. In front of the kitchen, a triangle space is utilized ritualistically, as it allows the teachers to reward students with fresh fruits that can extracted from the acrylic tubes directly. Continuing towards the gym, the kids find small stairs that give them the opportunity to playfully climb towards it. The wall panels of the room can be re-arranged, like a big toy, according to the activities that take place. The open space becomes an opportunity for countless activities, and with the use of a large quantity of soft objects consisting of different sizes, educators can innovate on providing engaging and rewarding experiences to the little kids. In the music classroom, the idea is to create a house that can sing. We designed triangle windows where embedded sound speakers emit on the outside a mix of sounds, allowing curious children to walk closer and hear parts of the music activities that take place inside of the room. Additionally, a mini triangular-shaped stage has been added to the room’s exterior, which lets the little stars sing or perform tunes they enjoy the most. 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, in the design of the NYC Kids Club, we have included the Five Senses Corners. 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.