Unexpected Spatial Experiences

Hua Museum by URBANUS Architecture is located in Shenzhen, China. The architects explain: “The site has had a rather unremarkable history. Originally made for a laundry facility for Shenzhen Bay Hotel in the early 80’s, it is situated along the main road, between a Spanish-style OCT Hotel and the Hexiangning Gallery. Over many years, the warehouse itself remained unaltered while the city around it rapidly transformed.▪

Considering the significance of its location, the owner decides to remodel the warehouse in a meaningful way. For Urbanus, the remodelling of the site poses difficult questions of how to address the existing urban condition, and how new interventions would relate to it. The main architectural gesture is to wrap the entire warehouse with a hexagonal glass curtain wall. The pattern is created from 4 different sizes of hexagons. As a result, the new wall becomes a lively theatrical screen. The geometric pattern is more than just surface deep. It is actually a three-dimensional matrix of intersecting elements that project into the gallery spaces, structuring the building’s interior design. The result is the creation of delightful and unexpected spatial experiences.”

Project: Hua Museum

Location: Shenzhen, China

Client: Shenzhen OCT Real Estate Co., Ltd

Architects: URBANUS Architecture & Design. Inc.

Project: 2006-2008

Construction: 2008
Size: 2,620 sq m

Images: URBANUS Architecture

Toys for adults (and not what you might think)

Dolls. Action figures. Plush toys. If you think these are only of interest to your younger siblings (or your geeky neighbours), you might want to rethink that. The kind of toys I am talking about here are not the cheap kind from the toy store and made to be tossed around, but they are rather sold in galleries, a bit pricier, and definitely intended to be displayed as works of art.

Indeed, several artists are devoting their time to creating, in limited edition, these slightly subversive, indisputably cute, often absurd, playfully witty, pocket-sized chef-d’oeuvres. These toys surely make edgy design objects, but you can still play with them if you fancy it (no worries, it’s between you and them).

Among the most prolific designers of such toys are Frank Kozik, Devilrobots, and Tokidoki, who all specialize in vinyl figurines, and whose work can be found online at Kid Robot. My Paper Crane, on the other hand, makes what she calls "handmade funky weird artwork", and creates mostly plush toys (from jelly sandwiches to carnivorous plants to toilet bowls and tissues). In the city of Montreal, Camion de Pompier carries an interesting collection from all around the world. So, it's time to leave your pride aside and rediscover the joys of toys!

Below, some personal favourites...

The Smorking Labbit, and Smorking Cupcakes, by Frank Kozik

More smorkin' characters...Big Bob Slug, by Frank Kozik

The French Dunnys series, by Kid Robot

Warhol, Picasso, Mondrian and more... with the Arto-Fu Kubricks


A forever-spilled ice cream cone: The evil Ice Clown, by Lazysmash

Pie, donuts, cookies... non-perishable sweets, by My Paper Crane