Location: Bospark, Netherlands
Type: Completed Assignment for Carve Studio, The Netherlands
Design: Playground Design
Team: Oana-Maria Paraschiv
Completion: September 2017

The Playground of Happenings redefines the traditional concept of a playground by offering an immersive, multi-sensory experience for children of all ages. It emphasizes play not just as a form of entertainment, but as an exploration of space, connection with the environment, and interaction with others. The design is centered on integrating the playground seamlessly into its surrounding park, while offering a rich variety of experiences that stimulate movement, creativity, and discovery.

CONCEPT | This playground is designed as a space that both reflects and absorbs its surroundings by using mirrors, becoming in this way part of the park’s landscape while inviting children and adults to interact with it. The triangular layout of the site symbolizes gathering, while its form enhances safety and accessibility. The design features raised and sloping corners to enclose the space and guide movement.

The concept of Playground of Happenings emphasizes three key features:

• Integration: The playground mirrors the natural surroundings, blending into the park while using reflective materials like mirrored mesh on the “tree houses” to offer a discovering experience for children.

• Connection: The layout encourages directionality and accessibility, with paths and zones that cross-section the site, creating points of interaction for users of all ages.

• Experience: The playground is designed for children of different age groups. The lower level, with its gentle slopes, sand spaces, and tunnels, is ideal for young children (0-6), encouraging creative and sensorial play. The upper layer offers more dynamic experiences for older children (6+), focusing on movement and adventure through a series of journeys that stimulate exploration and action.

ARCHITECTURAL AND SPATIAL DESIGN | The design fosters a sense of discovery, with elements like the tree houses providing a familiar yet playful experience for children, while the mirrored surfaces blend the structures with the surrounding environment. The topographic changes in the landscape provide both tactile and visual stimuli, offering a variety of surfaces and textures for exploration.

With its thoughtful layout and focus on multifunctional affordances, the Playground of Happenings enhances social interaction, connection to nature, and the joy of play, making it a space that evolves into a "place" through the experiences of its users.