Playscapes: pop up playground for children in cities

A pair of urban specialist architects has been inspired to use portable wooden crates to turn empty public spaces in the Jordanian capital Amman into playgrounds.

Sarah Abdul Majid and Sandra Hiari, the brains behind this urban innovation, say their creation, Playscapes, makes it possible to put up playgrounds almost anywhere.

Playscapes was inspired by the duo’s local environment and their desire to find a creative way to encourage play and implement change at grassroots level, while cutting out bureaucracy.

Sarah told architecture magazine Dezeen: “There aren’t many green spaces or dedicated playgrounds in Amman, or any other city in Jordan, and we have lots of voids within the city.”

The wooden crates are cost effective and easy to construct, dismantle and transport. Playscapes can be assembled for different age groups and makes allowances for limited space.

Majid added: “To be able to infill these even temporarily with play areas or urban furniture, that would bring these spaces to life and activate them. It is an idea that can be implemented in refugee camps because it is something that is temporary and can be easily put together,” added Majid.