RUBIX SQUARE

Rubix Square
Fuzhou | Jiang Xi | China

A Playful Fusion of Art, Sport, and Urban Interaction

Rubix Square is a hyper-stimulating public space located in Fuzhou, Jiang Xi province China, nestled within a residential area and surrounded by residential buildings. The project is composed of five distinct installations, each inspired by a sport or specific activity, designed to engage visitors in a unique and playful environment.

At the heart of the project is the central installation, Rubix Square—a massive, habitable sculpture and playground designed as a three-story building. This centerpiece draws inspiration from the iconic Rubik’s Cube, a game that has captivated people worldwide. However, in this iteration, the Rubix Cube is reimagined as a space you can explore from within. Visitors can dive inside this colossal structure, where they are encouraged to interact with its vibrant and dynamic interior.

Surrounding the Rubix Cube are four additional installations, each offering a unique and interactive experience:

The Hashtag: The first installation is a large hashtag structure that lies on the ground, designed as a labyrinth. This maze allows users to pass through its openings, exploring various spaces filled with interactive features such as lighting games, slides, swings, and other playful elements. The design encourages exploration and discovery, making it a fun and engaging experience for all ages.

Basket Triangle: The second installation is inspired by basketball. This structure features baskets positioned in unconventional ways—upside down, at various angles, and at different heights. This interactive installation is not just for playing basketball; it also allows children to practice their skills by aiming and shooting the ball into the numerous baskets, challenging their coordination and creativity.

Wall Ball: The next installation is themed around football, consisting of a wall with multiple holes of varying sizes and difficulties. Children can practice their aim by kicking the ball into these targets, honing their precision and accuracy in a fun and competitive environment.

Heli-Skate: The last corner of the square is occupied by a skatepark with ramps and slopes, designed for beginners to practice and improve their balance and equilibrium on a skateboard. This area offers a safe space for young skaters to develop their skills while enjoying the thrill of the sport.

The surrounding pavements are designed with a combination of stone and painted surfaces for the circulation areas, and EPDM for the playing areas that will receive the impact of kids playing and jumping on top. All of this is set within a grid of lines and colors that align with the main narrative, creating an exciting and lively landscape. Square planters with trees and wooden seating are strategically placed throughout the area, adding greenery and providing spaces for relaxation.

As night falls, Rubix Square transforms into a magical and surreal environment. The installations light up, casting a captivating glow that enhances the whimsical nature of the space, making it a truly unforgettable experience for visitors. Rubix Square is not just a public space; it is a living, breathing work of art that invites interaction, play, and community engagement in the heart of a residential area.

Credits

PROJECT NAME: Rubix Square
DESIGN: 100 Architects (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
DESIGN TEAM: Marcial Jesús, Javier González, Yuntong Liu, Mónica Páez, Lara Broglio, Ponyo Zhao, Keith Gong, Cosima Jiang, Michelle Aldora, Jango Zhang.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM: Matias Hernandez, Jenny Fan & Eva Jiang
SIZE: 1400 m2
STATUS: Built
LOCATION: Fuzhou, Jiang Xi, China

A fun twist of Chinese traditional architecture in deep China.

The design is strongly inspired in traditional Chinese rural architecture, but with a modern twist. The project is a mixture of traditional & modern styles in a boutique hotel immersed in nature, a touristic destination in a rural setting. The entire scheme adopts certain traditional features of Chinese rural architecture into the design.