Rockscape

This playground invites children to climb up, crawl through, and discover secret nooks just like young explorers in nature. Every surface becomes part of an adventure!

    1. Brief Overview

    2. Problem Statement

    3. HMW Statement

    4. Research

    5. Ideation

    6. Final Product Outcome

    7. Learning Outcomes

    • Understanding Nature-Inspired Design

    • Visual Communication

    • Inclusive Design Principles

    • Activity-Centered Design

    • Sensory Experience Mapping

    • Spatial & Environmental UX

    • SketchUp (3D Modeling &(Rendering)

    • Procreate (Sketching)

    • Adobe Photoshop (Editing)

Problem Statement

Traditional playgrounds rarely reflect the forms, textures, and experiences of natural landscapes, restricting physical exploration and imaginative interaction with nature.

How Can We Statement

How might we create a structure where juniors can connect with nature through climbing, exploring, and imaginative play?

Research & Insights

Nature’s Geometry

Exploring rock formations provided insight into the natural geometry, textures, and layering of the landscape. The moodboard served as a visual collage to capture the essence of these features - highlighting patterns, contrasts, and textures that inform both the structure and tactile experience of the playground design.

Understanding ATS Principles In Playground Design

Concept Development

Sketching Out The Play Value

The design encourages physical exploration, imaginative storytelling, and sensory engagement with form and texture. It offers a low-challenge introduction to climbing and balancing for junior users, and its hidden space below fosters social interaction and creative thinking. The clean, angular design speaks to natural beauty without mimicking it too literally, allowing the piece to blend into both landscaped parks and urban green spaces.

Rockscape

Made for climbing, crawling, and exploring, this play structure has rock walls to climb, secret steps to the top, and hidden nooks to crawl into and pretend you’re in a secret cave! You can be a mountain climber, a cave explorer, or even a lookout captain. It's safe, fun, and made just for kids like you. So grab a friend—or go solo—and let the adventure begin!

Reflection & Next Steps

Next Steps In Nature Play

This project highlighted the potential of translating natural rock and cave formations into playful, climbable structures for children. It reinforced the importance of creating designs that balance rugged aesthetics with safety and imaginative engagement.

Looking ahead, additional structures could be developed to expand the playground, maintaining the overall nature-inspired vibe while offering varied climbing challenges, tunnels, and tactile experiences that echo the textures and forms of the surrounding landscape.