You don't have to be Edison to invent

Changzheng innovation house provides equipment and even brand new numerical-control machines for people to get involved in DIY. Wu Ni / China Daily

Those who love DIY things now have a perfect space to turn their novel ideas into reality. At a community innovation house in Putuo district of Shanghai, one can create a variety of cool stuff using the facilities.

Among the innovative items in the center include pendant lamps made of thermoses, fence gates made of bicycle wheels and height-adjustable stools made of bamboo steamers.

"The decorations of the house are specially designed. Our purpose is to create a breeding ground for new innovative ideas," says Gu Wenlei, an instructor of the house. Gu is from the science and technology association of Changzheng town, Putuo district.

The house is equipped with wood and metal lathes, saws, drills, grinders, mills and other complicated electronic items, all free for use. Visitors can bring their own materials or buy them from the center.

Divided by fences, the room has four areas for different types of participants. There is even a special area for children, ages 3 to 8, to try their hands at science experiments.

The advanced zone, furnished with various types of equipment like cutting, grinding, milling and drilling machines for metal, wood and plexiglass, is for people with some knowledge and experience in design and engineering.

More advanced users, inventors and designers can go to the "development zone", which is equipped with some brand-new numerical-control machines. "These are the smaller versions of real numerical-control machines. And you need to be very good to master the machines," Gu says.

Xiao Xu, a resident from the community, is a frequent visitor to the house. He spent two hours finishing a wedding gift for his friend - a heart-shaped photo frame he designed all by himself.

"It is not very difficult, mainly cutting, gluing and polishing. It is so interesting, using the hands and brain. Moreover, the gift is unique and specially made for my friend," he says.

A brick wall in the house showcases the various handicrafts made by children in the center, such as wooden windmills, pencil cases, and various wooden animals.

Lu Qingxiang, an official from the Changzheng community who is responsible for the innovation house, says children from 12 schools and nine kindergartens in Changzheng town regularly come to the house to do handiwork.

"We are recruiting volunteers and expert technicians to help make most of the machines," Lu says. "Most visitors are green hands, and they have fun making the handicrafts. But we lack experts to explore the functions of the advanced machines."

More than 10,000 people have visited the house since it opened last December, Gu says.

The house, mainly government-funded, cost more than 400,000 yuan ($64,480), with the machines costing about 170,000 yuan. There are three other similar innovation houses in the city's Xuhui and Baoshan districts, and Yangxing town.

Shanghai's government has approved another 30 innovation houses to be set up in a few districts soon. In five years' time, the houses are expected to total 100.