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A white pegboard wall and a matching curved partition are filled with colourful, tube-like pegs. The room features a white floor and a wall with bold yellow and white vertical stripes.

Mathery Studio designs super cool interactive, foam-filled space for kids

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Date
16 November 2015

This exhibition design and identity comes from Italy-based Mathery Studio and was created as part of the Hangzhou International Design Week in China. An interactive space for kids set up in a shopping mall, Tubo is made up of a series of white-framed, food-shaped structures and surrounded by perforated walls.

Like a magnified pin board, the space looks sparse but still kid-friendly and fun, with pools of colourful foam tubes taking over the space. The idea is for children to “fill up the holes of the structures using the foam tubes,” the studio says. “They can stick, tie and slot them in however they like to create a 3D colouring effect.”

Playing with the idea of colouring in and the interaction of objects and shapes to make new ones, the studio hopes a completely unique landscape will be created. “With the continual addition of Tubos, over time the space will become a creative, colourful scene of furry food.”

To accompany the space are some beautifully shot campaign images used to promote the exhibition. Well-dressed, deadpan kids use the foam tubes as hats, shields and blindfolds, adding yet another use for these inanimate, spongey objects.

A bright, white open-plan installation in a shopping mall features various colourful, tube-like sculptures. A yellow and white striped wall in the background displays the word “Tubo”.
Above

Mathery Studio: Tubo

Two white perforated metal sculptures stand in a bright white room. One is a curved arch and the other a tall cylinder, both bristling with colourful, needle-like spikes.
A white pegboard wall is covered in colourful, foam-like tubes in various lengths and curves. A large circular hole is cut through the centre of the board.
Above
Left

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A collection of small, colourful curved tubes are arranged in a swirling pattern across a white pegboard. The tubes in shades of orange, yellow, purple and green circle a central white disc.
A dense pile of colourful, cylindrical rods in shades of orange, yellow, purple and green. The rods are scattered in a random, overlapping arrangement.
Above

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A wide-angle shot of a white, perforated tunnel installation. Dozens of colourful, cylindrical tubes in shades of yellow, red, purple and green protrude from the walls and ceiling.
Above

Mathery Studio: Tubo

An art installation in a bright white room. A white pegboard wall is covered in colourful, curved plastic rods, while a matching white cylinder and floor stands hold similar orange and green pieces. One wall features bold yellow and white vertical stripes.
Above

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A child in a grey suit looks at the camera, holding a white glove in one hand. A bundle of colourful, flexible tubes is draped over their shoulder. Red text in the top left reads “Tubo” above the words “Mathery Studio”.
Above

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A child in a fluffy pink sweater looks at the camera with a neutral expression. They hold a head of broccoli and wear a headpiece made of colourful foam tubes.
Above
Left

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A child in a purple and white checked shirt holds several colourful, flexible foam tubes. They look off to the side against a plain yellow background.
A child in a purple blazer holds a stack of colourful, flat discs over their eyes. The discs are layered in shades of grey, purple, yellow, orange and pink.
Above
Left

Mathery Studio: Tubo

A hand wrapped in clear plastic holds a red mesh bag. Inside the bag are several colourful, foam pool noodles in shades of yellow, pink and purple.

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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