Toy as Architecture: Part 1 | Road King Pavilion

Shenzhen, China

Pavilion in construction

Photo © Fiona Bao

Kunstinstallaties

Architecten: Groundwork

Jaar: 2018
Klant: Road King Properties
Team: John Chan, Clarissa Chau, CY Lau, Manfred Yuen

Groundwork was invited to design the Road King pavilion, a Hong Kong developer who first made their fortune by building roads in mainland China since the 1990s. The exhibition space was in Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre, at September 2018.

Our choice to build a space with functioning 4WD toy car tracks was heavily inspired by the company’s slogan “The Endless Road”, which has inspired us to define the space with mini racecar tracks that children and hobbyist play with. The winding “roads” that defines the space became a symbol of nostalgia, reminding us of our childhood, whilst embodying the spirit of Road King’s motto.

Using mini roads to define space, the pavilion is not only a striking visual icon within the exhibition hall, it is also a portal for guests to connect. An inside lounge area and free bar service invites guests to stop by, mingle, and play with the 4WD cars!

Within this gateway, we wish that our guests, who are mostly experienced Chinese real estate developers, to connect with their childhood.