About

Oliblocks were created by Daniel R. Oakley, Architect & Toy maker.

The idea for Oliblock came from Daniel Oakley's desire to create a toy that would encourage children to think about building things in a new way. He envisioned a toy that would introduce a way to challenge, teach and stimulate a child's mind, yet be fun and appealing at the same time. The result was the development of Oliblock, an architecturally inspired set of 4 shapes, "building blocks" unusual in their interaction with each other and organic in shape.

Oliblock fit together with an interlocking connection on one end and a magnetic connection on the other. Organically shaped pieces and vibrant colors differentiate Oliblock from its more linear, classic building blocks predecessors. Oliblock are infinitely more artful. The fresh design frees the builder to create what has never before been imagined. The unique design and architectural sensibilities of Oliblock flow directly from Daniel Oakley's architectural and design background. The serendipitous blend of Oakley's vision of a new breed of building blocks and his distinguished background in architecture resulted in the founding of Oliblock.

Oakley's professional association with renowned architect Zaha Hadid has influenced and shaped his design and architectural sensibilities and philosophy. For over 20 years, Hadid has symbolized the vanguard of contemporary architecture, pushing the boundaries of architectural design.

Oakley worked with Hadid on these notable projects:

Developing drawings and paintings for the widely publicized Vitra Fire Station in Weil am Rhein, Germany.
An installation entitled "The Great Utopia" which was exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, exploring Russian suprematism and constructivism.
A perspective of London in the year 2066 commissioned by British Vogue Magazine to commemorate the magazine's 75th anniversary issue.
KMR Art and Media Center in Dusseldorf, a redevelopment project of the city's harbor area.

Also to Oakley's credit are international awards that include First Prize in the "Apple UK 3D Design Software Competition" and the "KMR Competition for Art and Media Center".

This segue from architect to toy maker was also driven by Oakley's natural inclination away from the virtual world of the computer to the use of his hands. What began as a natural extension of Oakley's architectural background, creativity and artistry has evolved into the creation of a modernist new age set of toy building blocks that promises to become an instant classic. To view Oakley's Architectural work visit www.droakley.com.

Öliblock Logo Designed by Kaaren Johnson

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