CONTACTLESS PLAYGROUND

The proven benefits of outdoor play for children include increased focus, enhanced learning, an uplift in mood and a decrease in hyperactivity. Many children however lack access to safe external space due to child poverty. In England alone, more than 127,000 children in 86,000 households are currently housed in temporary accommodation. Temporary can mean a minimum of six months or longer in poor-quality housing ranging from cramped B&Bs to repurposed office blocks and even shipping containers. 

The Contactless Playground proposes an affordable and Covid-friendly solution to this issue with a year-round play experience that can be incorporated into temporary accommodation areas and which supports the wellbeing and mental health of families living in restricted spaces or dealing with challenging urban environments.

Focussing on the positive impact of circadian rhythms on children’s wellbeing, the project uses colour and natural daylight to create a highly sensory and dynamic experience which allows children to create and interact with reflections and shadows in a way which minimises contact. Where traditional playground equipment focuses on physical interaction with the structure, the Contactless Playground innovates play behaviour through colour theory and applied colour psychology, finding new ways to encourage activity, agility and positive identity, and putting the child at the centre of their own experience.

Designed for easy manufacture and fast assembly, the component based Contactless Playground can be deployed by local authorities to alleviate the challenges of temporary accommodation, brighten up unloved areas or create additional space for communities during lockdown.