Hyundai Moka Garden by Hayon Studio
Location: Namyangju, South Korea
Status: Completed

Hyundai Department Store, in collaboration with world-renowned designer Jaime Hayon, will open MOKA Garden in Korea’s first gallery-style outlet, Hyundai Space 1 in Namyangju, South Korea. MOKA Garden designed entirely by Jaime Hayon consists of three interactive cultural spaces to encourage imagination and play: MOKA Library, Jaime Hayon Garden, MOKA Play.

In this second iteration of MOKA, Hyundai Museum of Kids’ Books & Art, the highly sought-after Spanish designer was commissioned to incorporate the theme of “Nature” in his much-anticipated first interior design project in Korea. Reflecting on this opportunity, Jaime Hayon remarked: “For me, starting the first interior design in Korea is a really big pleasure because I love Korea and everything that is around the culture, is a total pleasure. Especially because I am free to make something is also a total challenge for me. I’m really proud and happy to do it.”

Through Hayon’s spirited and creative designs, the space encourages and cultivates “Nature Literacy” in weary city-dwellers who rarely have a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature. MOKA Library will house over 2000 nature-themed Children’s books, each hand-picked by a picture book expert. Visitors can seamlessly transition from in-book learning to in-person experience by stepping foot in the indoor Jaime Hayon Garden. In addition to inspiring nature, the playful sculptures and vibrant mural of MOKA Play inspire creativity and imagination in both children and adults alike.

MOKA Library – A Labyrinth of Books
While creating the identity of the library, Hayon envisioned children traversing a snake-like bookcase maze, the heart of the library, and naturally discovering books that are positioned precisely to reach the eye-levels of children. The numerous characters found in the library, found on the ceiling artwork and its supporting seating sculptures, breathe life into the space. There are two additional spaces. The “Edu Lab” furnished with tables and chairs designed by Hayon himself, is a space for education programs. The “Art Lab” will hold nature-themed exhibitions, but for the duration of the opening, the artist’s design sketches and 3D modelling of the spaces along with the artist’s commentary will be exhibited.

Jaime Hayon Garden – A Fanciful Sculpture Garden
Named after the designer himself, the Jaime Hayon Garden is the heart of MOKA Garden. The angled-glass ceilings allow in natural light on the numerous varieties of flora that instil rest and inspiration. The garden brings to the forefront a nature that’s often taken for granted and helps visitors rediscover nature’s beauty and preciousness. Born of Hayon’s imagination and each named by the artist himself, the eight unique animal-shaped sculptures (1 found at the mall entrance) and a large fountain head speak to the inner children in everyone.

MOKA Play – An Inspirational Playground
At the centre of MOKA Play is the floating mural that wraps around the space. The diverse array of animals, humans and objects lit by natural sunlight from the angled-glass ceiling and brought to life in vivid colours coveys the artist’s theme of “Evolution.” The artist put his art and soul into the mural in particular. Visitors who enter discover a playful, interactive and explorable space enclosed by amphitheatre seating for rest and adult supervision. Hayon intended the playground to be a place where children could cross over into an imaginative world of play by designing four climbable animals that invite children to utilize their imagination. The rounded design elements were crafted to be both safe for children and soft on the eyes.

more.www.hayonstudio.com