German Design Award 2016

The coolest place to get smart
On January 18, 2015, China sees the opening of its first kids design experience: the Kids
Museum of Glass. Children can explore their creativity in the former workshop that is
converted into a space that hosts an Exhibition, a DIY Workshop, two Cafés, a Gift Shop
and a Party Space. The idea and design of the museum are by Tilman Thürmer, founder and CEO of COORDINATION ASIA, and combines art, design, performances, films and games in a creative, interactive and educational environment. The 2,000 sqm space is designed for children in the age of 4-10 to learn about the basics of glass in a playful and fun way.

China’s first kids design museum
With China’s first design museum still on its way, COORDINATION ASIA now introduces China’s
first children’s design museum: the Kids Museum of Glass. This educational design space, a
former industrial workshop, is marked by kaleidoscopic patterns, natural materials and contrasting
sleek blackened glass surfaces. Street inspired materials such as simple plywood and sterling
board give the space an edgy, playful and welcoming feel. The Kids Museum of Glass is the
newest addition to the ever-growing G+ Park, one of Shanghai’s trendsetting creative hubs.

Intuition-based experience
The exhibition is built up as a ‘glass city’, consisting of different units that are themed with easy to
grasp city analogies, such as ‘The Beach’, ‘The Circus’ and ‘The Factory’. Children are confronted
with snack-sized information while playing with different glass-themed installations. The museum
experience is intuition-based and invites children to explore the topic of glass independently. Easy
to use multi-media installations tempt children to touch and play: simple actions and gestures allow
them to discover for example how lightning can create glass, how a glass prism works or what
smart glass is. In between playing and learning, children can relax and watch a film in the
integrated Fire Theater or Up-Cycling Theater. Creative kids can practice their sketching skills by
drawing an art piece on the spot in one of the ‘Draw Me’ installations.

Living Space
In the exhibition, cross-links are made with two other functions in the space: the DIY Workshop and
the Gift Shop. Visitors are alerted to the fact that they can try activities and buy objects that they
see in the space. The DIY Workshop and Gift Shop - set on the first floor of the space - offer a
wide range of children-specific workshops as well as the museum’s own line of children’s products.
Additionally, the Kids Museum of Glass has a dedicated Party Space, where plenary introductions
to larger school groups, private birthday parties or brand events focused on families can be held. In
two integrated Cafés, visitors can recharge or take a rest while visiting.

Responsible Design
Sustainability and well-being were carefully considered as factors in the design process. The
colorful museum space is a reused building, that has special air filters to guarantee clean and
healthy air during playtime. All materials within the space are chosen with a sustainable outlook, to
ensure a better tomorrow for the young visitors that engage with the space.
A playground, an art space, a second classroom and an event venue: altogether, the Kids Museum
of Glass is a multifunctional and exciting new experience, which aims to become thé new cultural
destination for families with children in Shanghai and beyond.

Das Kids Museum of Glass wurde als Stadt aus Glas auf einer Fläche von 2.000 qm gebaut und soll Kinder für das Thema Glas sensibilisieren. Hierfür wurden etliche einfach zu bedienende multimediale Terminals und analoge Exponate entwickelt, die zum Anfassen, Ausprobieren und Entdecken auffordern. Eine faszinierende Erlebniswelt, in der das Thema Glas auf hohem gestalterischen Niveau umgesetzt wurde und es spielerisch erfahrbar macht.