Chen Xiaochun

    654789759@qq.com

    A FORUM themed “Design•Future” was held in the auditorium at the Shekou i-Factory on Saturday. Five excellent designers, namely Taku Hibino from Japan, Barbara Alink from the Netherlands, Liu Daizong from Beijing, Zhou Yuru and Lin Zongyan from Taipei each delivered a speech on their exhibition projects.

    Hibino is the head of Hibinosekkei and the person in charge of the project “Design for kids,” a joint effort of two Japanese studios Hibinosekkei and Youji no Shiro. Initiated in 1991, “Design for kids” specializes in the design and construction of children’s facilities.

    During his presentation, Hibino employed various media such as photos, videos, models and VR to present their project.

    “Don’t design for kids from the perspective of an adult” is one of the design concepts that Hibino has impressed upon the audience. “We realized that pre-school facilities should not only serve the adults who are working in it, but most importantly the children who are living and growing up in the space. Supported by this new idea, we design exclusive spaces for children from their perspective, and we build kindergartens which respond to future changes with leading vision,” said Hibino.

    Hibino and his team pay attention to small design details, such as the design of the restroom. They encourage designers to keep the restroom in the south and use French windows to make the space brighter, drier and better ventilated. Ultraviolet rays from sunlight can kill virus and reduce odors.

    “The restroom that we design is very bright, because a dark and smelly restroom scares kids and they don’t dare to use the restroom, which is bad for the health of their intestines and stomach,” explained Hibino.

    Another point Hibino made is: don’t over-protect kids. “What we want to provide for our children is an environment which enables them to learn and to experience little frustrations and failures. It is necessary for them to have those problems early so they can learn to solve them, because it provides them with unforgettable understanding and paves the way for their future when real issues arrive.”