Leo Sun's "Sissis Wonderland": A New Paradigm in Children's Space Design

Award-winning design that redefines children's spaces with a blend of nature, creativity, and safety

Leo Sun's "Sissis Wonderland" is a unique reading space that challenges traditional children's design. Inspired by the game of blowing bubbles, the space is an amalgamation of different functional areas, creating a dynamic and interactive environment for children. The design has been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020.

The design of "Sissis Wonderland" is a departure from the flamboyant decoration and superficial embellishments often seen in traditional children's spaces. Instead, the focus is on the shape of the space itself, turning it into a giant toy where children can freely explore and create their own experiences. The space is designed to be both open and independent, with public and private areas overlapping and interconnected in a creative and pleasant way.

Wood is the main building material used in the creation of "Sissis Wonderland", chosen to foster a friendly relationship between the created space and the surrounding plants, and to bring children closer to nature. The boundaries where different spaces meet are adorned with green plants, sustaining a dynamic interaction between person, space, and nature. The choice of white paint and soft grey floor glue ensures a safe and interesting place for children to play, learn, and interact.

The project covers a total of 108 square meters and is designed from a child's perspective. Despite the spatial limitations, the design incorporates stairs of different heights, bookshelves that also serve as chairs, zigzagging ramps, and mini arches, all scaled for children. This allows children to climb, play, and explore without parents worrying about potential dangers and injuries.

Research indicates that children aged three to seven are in their most sensitive period of transitioning from their subjective worlds to the objective world. A flowing space like "Sissis Wonderland" helps expand their perceiving and communicating abilities and reveal their true and creative nature. The design aims to provide a cozy and amicable place for children to read and play, a place that inspires their imagination and creativity.

The main challenge in the project was to create different configurations according to different realms in spaces. The result is a multitude of spatial forms and hierarchies, where spaces with different functions communicate and fuse with each other. The design also prioritizes safety, with curved walls that not only feel more comfortable but also enhance the perceptibility of space for a child. Square corners, hard materials, and even straight lines are avoided wherever possible for better protection.

In conclusion, Leo Sun's "Sissis Wonderland" is a testament to innovative and thoughtful design. It not only provides a safe and stimulating environment for children but also sets a new standard in children's space design. The project is a shining example of how design can be used to foster creativity, exploration, and a love for nature in children.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Leo Sun
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Daqi Zhang, Bookshelves, 2018. Image #2: Photographer Daqi Zhang, Mini Arches, 2018. Image #3: Photographer Daqi Zhang, Reading Space, 2018. Image #4: Photographer Daqi Zhang, Reading Space 2, 2018. Image #5: Photographer Daqi Zhang, Corridor, 2018.
Project Team Members: Yves Zhang Leo Sun Yiye Zhang Dawei Jiang Shuhang Zhang
Project Name: Sissis Wonderland
Project Client: Leo Sun


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