Early learning centres seek to inspire kids through creative interior designs

At Spring Learning Centre in Wan Chai, which opened in March 2013, Joey Ho Design viewed the project from a child's perspective, rather than what an adult expects a child to like.

There are no bright colours, fairytale characters or dinosaurs here. Instead, there is a neutral colour palette and a design that incorporates two sets of systems and furnishings - tall and small - to put child and adult on a level playing field.

Tasked with creating an environment where parents would want to stay and be involved with their child's learning was an exciting challenge for the design team.

"This was a good chance for us to try to make use of design to achieve that [cross-generational engagement], says Joey Ho Tzung-tsien, creative director.

All aspects of the centre are designed to let kids and adults share the space equally. In the cafeteria area, which Ho describes as "a little wonderland", there's a treehouse with swings, but also two sets of cocoon-style pods - big ones where parents can go online while waiting for their children, and smaller pods, without internet access, for the kids to read quietly.