The Kids Museum of Glass 2.0 is a 2,320 m2 contemporary art and design museum created for young visitors in a converted former glass-making workshop. The museum’s kids-driven contents are integrated into an explorative visiting experience, aiming to encourage independent learning. The exhibition is designed to engage visitors on multiple levels. All the exhibits are connected through a scavenger hunt which invites them to look for clues in the space. The hands-on installations empower children to take control and explore further what interests them and to actively learn about glass as a material and its role in the environment, science, technology, art, design and human civilization. Multimedia and digital contents play a significant part in the exhibition design, including a mirror maze, sound installations, an interactive motion-tracking exhibit and short films about glass in different fields. The museum also provides large workshop spaces with fully functioning glass-making kilns and state-of-the-art flameworking stations. The flexible space allows opportunities for temporary exhibitions and events and can accommodate several school groups. The original wooden structures of the roof and exposed brick walls are kept to preserve the authenticity of the former workshop. Black metal platforms and staircases are inserted into the clean, open-plan space to create layers under the original roof with an impressive height of 12 metres. Translucent walls made of customized glass bricks let the space flooded with natural light. The patterns on the glass bricks imitate the steel mesh used in the former factory. These subtle details are intended to be reminders of the building’s industrial heritage, creating an intriguing dialogue between ‘old and new’. The whole space is dominated by the strong contrast of a monochromatic palette which highlights the vibrant colours used on exhibits, dynamic surfaces and installations. Animated light lines run through the whole museum, elevating the space with an energetic and active vibe. Distinctive environmental graphic treatments play a central role. The bold graphics on the wall and the museum’s own mascot patterns on the custom-made soft floors encapsulate visitors in a unique immersive environment. The kid’s behaviours are taken into consideration while choosing materials. Tempered glass is used on all the showcases that allow young visitors to stand, walk and even jump on the surface. The Kids Museum of Glass 2.0 offers an environment that creates a common ground where parents’ objective for children to learn and kids’ wish to play are met. The design demonstrates the vision of creating a contemporary cultural and educational destination. The museum presents young urbanites and their families a platform for lifestyle-centred activities and the appreciation of art and culture.

All exhibits and furniture are optimised for children ergonomics. The kids' behaviours are taken into consideration while choosing materials. Tempered glass is used on all the showcases that allow young visitors to stand, walk and even jump on the surface. Customised 8 mm PVC floors, usually used for sports facilities, are designed to create a safe and clean environment for children to be active. The museum also provides large workshop spaces with fully functioning glass-making kilns and state-of-the-art flameworking stations. The flexible space allows opportunities for temporary exhibitions and events and can accommodate several school groups.

Kids Museum of Glass 2.0 is a pioneering educational space designed for children in China. It has demonstrated a different way of engaging families in a shared learning experience as well as exemplifies an unconventional aesthetic for kid-driven space. Its sleek and artistic environment is a statement that children can take the initiative in learning. The museum has received positive feedback from kids and parents as well as the media across the country. As one of the most popular venues in a private museum park, the museum is financially self-sustaining from the tickets and rich DIY programs with limited government subsidy. After laughing in May 2021, visitor numbers have grown steadily since its opening. 

What sets the Kids Museum of Glass 2.0 apart is the freedom of play and learn as well as collaborative behaviours between adults and kids in the space, which are not commonly observed in educational environments. Through a carefully curated and designed scavenge hunt that connects 26 exhibits, the museum encourages young visitors to explore the space rather than following a fixed route. The hands-on installations empower children to take the initiative in learning and explore further what interests them as opposed to spoon-fed knowledge. It is often observed in the museum that parents and kids are equally engaged in exploring the space, breaking the convention of a parent-led experience. In addition, plenty of benches and resting corners are inserted in the space, which allows more space for parents to relax and let their children enjoy the exhibition alone.