modular and sculptural cork playground by mccloy + muchemwa enlivens central london

interlocking puzzle-like modules shape ‘urban playground’

Architecture and design studio McCloy + Muchemwa enlivens a quiet, commercial pocket amid the bustling city of London with its Urban Playground. Conceived for the London Festival of Architecture 2023, the installation features a series of interlocking puzzle-like playthings inspired by wooden children’s toys, arranged as a trail that lead visitors on a playful journey of exploration. Made from tactile materials including expanded cork, mirror, and colourful linoleum, the modular play structures are intentionally abstract, inviting both young and old to engage and explore in unique ways.

The configurations offers various types of spaces, including elevated podiums for performances and small clusters perfect for quiet reflection. The larger blocks are complete with cavernous internal spaces which correspond to the smaller elements that invite people to engage and explore in a variety of ways, offering a distinct spatial experience. These are scattered around the site creating opportunities for seating, open-ended play, or specific actions such as sliding, redefining public space and inviting everyone — from children to busy city professionals, to explore its tactile form.

McCloy + Muchemwa employ modular structure for versatility

An urban experiment bridging a common ground between children and city workers, the installation breathes fresh life into the city’s landscape. Through textures, forms, and formations, McCloy + Muchemwa challenges perceptions and offer a diverse perspective on urban sites for children. Plotted along a safe and quiet pedestrian street in a business-oriented part of the town, the Urban Playground enjoys a juxtaposition of youthful play in this context. The design team generates a vivid sense of movement in the region, and the street’s soundscape shifts from the bustle of the city to laughter and interaction. The play structures were designed to be eye-catching, arranged as a trail of breadcrumbs that lead visitors and passersby on a linear journey. Drawn away from the busy streets, along the way they encounter intriguing moments and informal gathering spaces shaded by trees. 

McCloy + Muchemwa’s design philosophy centers on inclusivity for all age groups. ‘We were keen to see how certain abstract design geometries translated into inhabitation, dwell time, and play,’ notes the team.

Further, environmental sustainability plays a pivotal role as the Urban Playground’s skeletons are constructed using CNC-cut OSB board and timber battens, which are then clad with 97% natural raw material and CO2-neutral linoleum, and 100% natural heat-treated expanded cork panels. The limited color palette of blue provides a cohesive aesthetic across the site, while non-shatter mirrored panels inject diversity to the sensory experience and opportunities for play. To ensure long-term life and reusability, the designers opted for this material palette which further achieved a balance of robustness, safety, and lower embodied carbon when compared with alternative options. The structure’s fabricated elements are designed with an optimized CNC template, using material sheet sizes cut without discarded material.

project info:

name: Urban Playground
designer: McCloy + Muchemwa

location: London, United Kingdom

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.