![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/11/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_hero-1-852x480.jpg)
China's Lolly-Laputan cafe is designed to be an educational "fairyland" for kids
A drawing of an imaginary fairyland was Wutopia Lab's starting point for the design of this cafe for children in Dalian, China.
Featuring a host of learn-play areas and whimsical decor details, the 580-square-metre Lolly-Laputan cafe is described by Wutopia Lab as "the first educational family restaurant in China".
"One morning my daughter was drawing out her dream fairyland and I really wanted to make that dream come true, so more kids could come and join in," explained Yu Ting, chief architect at the studio.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_16-852x569.jpg)
On the outside, the cafe's facade is covered with round, aluminium panels perforated with holes. Some overlap to form "ripples" or frame the building's various entrance points.
The front lobby is a circular room, where seating is surrounded by what the designers describe as a "forest of lights". Made up of 1,000 acrylic tubes hung in a ring-shaped formation, the lights are meant to simulate the effect of sunlight shining through dense layers of leaves in a forest.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_5-852x569.jpg)
The adjacent main cafe has a largely open-plan layout that revolves around a central area coined Cloudy Town – it's defined by rows of undulating white acrylic panels that run across the floor and ceiling.
Kids can run amongst the "clouds" and discover features such as a carousel, hidden tree-houses, slides and a ball pit.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_11-852x569.jpg)
Cloudy Town is also dotted with a series of house-shaped timber structures that contain miniature kitchen and supermarket playsets.
Grey panels line the outer perimeter of the room, which is used as a dining area. It's dressed with bench seats and armchairs upholstered in pale-blue fabric.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_8-852x569.jpg)
A number of enclosed private spaces provide a calmer environment for young visitors. These include a gallery-style space and a gabled structure with an arched front door.
Accessed via a short flight of steps and named the Golden Castle, the structure accommodates a quiet dining-area with a fireplace, artificial candlelights and shiny silverware, all scaled down to kid-size.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_12-852x569.jpg)
On the opposite side of the room, a red, velvet curtain can be raised to reveal a stage for performances. It's been finished with wooden flooring, neon lights and a dramatic crystal chandelier.
The restrooms are also imaginatively decorated – the girls' is inspired by candy floss, while the boys' is space travel-themed.
![Lolly-Laputan kids cafe, designed by Wutopia Lab](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/10/lolly-laputan-kids-cafe-interiors-china-wutopia-lab_dezeen_1704_col_27-852x1278.jpg)
August of this year also saw Sneha Divias Atelier complete White & The Bear – a children's restaurant in Dubai that – instead of the expected primary colours – has been decked out in neutral tones that are meant to stop young visitors from becoming overstimulated.
Photography is by CreatAR Images.
Project credits:
Design firm: Wutopia Lab
Chief architect: Mim Erni, Yu Ting
Project architect: Shengrui Pu
Design team: Mingshuai LI, Song Liu, Xueqin Jiang
Design consultant: S5 Design
Light consultant: Wuxi Huancheng Light Electricity Limited Company