Construction playground

Modulair play elements for loose part play

The community garden at Elzenhof had limited space available for the play area, making it essential to create a storage system resembling cabinets to neatly stow all materials. Additionally, the play elements were designed to form an aesthetically pleasing and playful ensemble, ensuring the area remains serene even amidst the inherently chaotic nature of loose-part play.

GC Elzenhof has long opened its garden as a community space to provide more room for children and families. Through the Playcation initiative, they requested the design and construction of a permanent play area focused on construction and building.

We designed modular play objects that serve as the foundation for children to expand their imaginative worlds using sticks and tarps. These objects allow children to continuously (re)create their play spaces according to their needs and desires, stimulating creativity and exploration. The play elements spark the imagination, drawing younger children to the building site, who often seek help from older kids or parents to move the larger or heavier objects. This interaction fosters a dynamic and meaningful connection among children.

“We notice the setup changes almost daily,” says Elzenhof. “The possibilities are endless. We see forts, boats, shops, spaceships, and other imaginative constructions emerge. The play elements are integrated into different games or become games themselves, moving across the garden. At first, we wanted the play area to be tidied up after every use, with all materials returned to the storage system, but we’ve let go of that idea. Now, we see the collection of objects not just as a fort-building area but also as sustainable toys in their own right.”

PARTICIPATORY DESIGN

Through various workshops, we collaborated with children from the neighborhood to design and build the play objects, incorporating their ideas into the process.