PlaysScapes Cubes.
A product approach to architectural playgrounds and fitness programming.
Client: Cooper’s Ferry Partnership
Industry: Public Spaces & Government
Services: Product & Service Design, Sourcing and Manufacturing
Design Brief.
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership (CFP) and the City of Camden in New Jersey were seeking proposals for the design of a temporary, artistic play feature for Roosevelt Plaza—a heavily utilized outdoor park located in front of Camden City Hall. Through providing an artistic, engaging, and fun activity for children visiting the park in the summer, their goal was to implicitly promote health and wellness.
Outcome.
We designed, manufactured and delivered a modular playground to support Camden’s waterfront programming for children and youth. The design solved a complex architectural challenge with a product-focused approach—one that avoided the need for permits, complex installation, and liability. We also provided ongoing maintenance support throughout the installation’s life in addition to support moving of the Playscape to a new permanent site.
Social Impact.
Camden reputation and economic challenges have colored its perception in the past. Within the last few years, CPF has helped bring Camden into view as a lively, growing community. By developing essential infrastructure and programming, CFP has been able to change the course of the city. Our work bolstered these development and equity goals by providing quality spaces that promote physical wellbeing.
Environmental Impact.
Playscapes Cubes we’re designed for maximum social engagement with minimal environmental impact. Each cube was fabricated in Pennsylvania from locally sourced materials. The construction of the cubes ensures durability, serviceability, and modularity. In addition to responsible sourcing, the Cubes can be strategically deployed with minimal intervention at any site.
Designing A Destination.
Site visits and meetings with stakeholders informed our research and design process. This site was not originally conceived for children—or play, for that matter—so the design needed to break down the park’s formal qualities. Our team recognized early on that the final design needed to be both intuitive and visually striking. For this reason, we made the Playscape large in scale, discoverable, and interpretive. This ensured the installation became a new reference point for the community and a welcoming invitation to children.
Designing For Body & Mind.
Our initial proposal included twelve different cubes with specific design objectives. After careful planning, we refined the designs into five play structures. The selected structures support intuitive and creative play, letting children interpret them with every new visit. The five structures included oversized pull up bars, two styles of climbing cubes with ropes, open slides, and an obstacle style ramp—each one aiming to engage different parts of the body and mind.
Links & Media.