Concept and Design
Wonderkin, located in Kuwait City, is an edutainment playroom catering to children from toddlers to preteens. Situated within an outdoor complex primarily targeted at young adults and parents, the aim was to create an elegant yet playful facade and interior. The design theme embraced a ‘colorful Nordic’ aesthetic, featuring pastel leathers, natural wooden furniture, and toys across the 180sqm space.
Playful Features
Upon arrival, children drop off their belongings at the reception and remove their shoes before entering the play area. Parents can relax in the waiting area while observing their children’s activities. The playroom offers various attractions, including a soft play jungle with slides, rope-net bridges, and a ball pit. Mini-buildings within the space allow children to engage in imaginative play, acting as shoppers, baristas, firefighters, or craftsmen.
Safety and Construction Challenges
Safety was paramount, with all surfaces in the play area padded with soft leather cushioning and anti-bacterial cork flooring underneath. Custom-designed fiberglass slides ensured color coordination with the interior. The facade features elements from the branding, including the logo and a playful character called Woohoo. The base of the facade incorporates curved sand-lime bricks, blending modestly with the building’s brick exterior and the playful interior.
Project Challenges
The project faced challenges due to the client already leasing the space before engaging the design team, resulting in a tight timeline. Construction documents for the slides needed simultaneous development with the design. Procuring materials, such as cork flooring, required advanced ordering due to shipping timelines. Construction of the soft play jungle, featuring a steel frame structure with wooden platforms and leather padding, presented engineering challenges, especially with the hanging bridge requiring site-specific structural design. Carpentry elements utilized white-washed oak wood veneer or water-based paint, while the bathroom boasted a custom-built orange Corian sink, and acoustic fabric panels disguised as waves adorned the walls.
