CHILD'S PLAY

THE WORLD’S FIRST CHILDREN’S RESTAURANT USES A NEUTRAL PALETTE INSTEAD OF SPLASHES OF COLOUR

- AIDAN IMMANOVA

Sneha Divas Atelier is no stranger to designing children-centric spaces, having worked on the successful Oli Oli – an interactive indoor play area in Dubai that reimagines antiquated playgrounds and provides kids with a stimulating alternative in which to play. The firm, headed by Sneha Divias, has now completed White & The Bear: the world’s first children’s restaurant.

“The design concept behind White & The Bear is to create a multi-faceted experience for children and parents. Children explore different sensory triggers while eating, learning, reading, and exploring, and share these findings with their parents. This improves the interaction between parents and children,” Divias says.

Unlike other children’s spaces that commonly comprise bright primary colours and an abundance of objects, White & The Bear takes an opposite approach. The interior combines a neutral colour palette of white and beige with black accents, complimented by cute wooden tables and chairs.

“When designing for the younger ones, it is important that there is a prevalence of earthy neutral and soft tones rather than primary and secondary colours often used. We selected such distinct palettes for kids’ spaces to not overstimulate the senses. Instead, the colour scheme promotes creativity, imagination, and learning,” she continues.