Toy Museum Moirans-en-Montagne Jura, France


Big Toy

Vilac is a French toy manufacturer renowned for its quality lacquered wooden toys. The design for their new factory in the region of the Jura, France aimed to capture a sense of the joy of playtime.

Part of the factory is opened to the public as a toy museum. The layout of the site, the façade of the building and the landscaping are all designed to make the visitor feel they are players in a game. The car park and main façade appear as a giant board game. Visitors follow the snakes and ladders to finally settle on a square (a car park). Colour, graphics and topiary landscape accentuate the sensation of being in the game.

Location: Moirans-en-Montagne, Jura, France 46°24’50.51″N, 5°43’20.76″E
Date: 2000
Architects in association: Lacoste+Stevenson and Vincent Hubert Architects
Design team: Thierry Lacoste, David Stevenson, Vincent Hubert
Photography / images: Lacoste+Stevenson Architects