Interactive installation-playground for children «Playground Stage»
Brief description of the project
Maria Montessori once wrote that play is children's work, emphasising that it is through play that children learn the skills they need for life and develop their talents. Often, environments that are not parents' favourites - puddles, abandoned building sites, rocky cliffs and other 'no-places' - become places where children are excited to spend time and grow into healthy and independent adults. Increasingly, it is being recognised that environments that do not provide full protection from risks are essential for children's development. Such environments help children to become aware of their physical abilities, assess risks, understand the consequences of their actions and develop skills to deal with a wide range of problems. It promotes physical and mental resilience and confidence and pushes the boundaries of imagination. Where an adult sees a rope, a child sees a river, a jungle snake or a bridge between mountains, and a silvery curtain shimmers for a child like a spaceship or the surface of a distant planet. The play sculpture "Playground Stage" by artist Linda Vigdorčika is an interactive art installation - a sculpture created as a response to the lack of playgrounds in Valmiera and an invitation to reflect on what kind of environment is most conducive to children's development and how much space we make for children and playfulness in the city. "Playground Stage" symbolises a bold and diverse approach to creating play environments, encouraging atypical and exciting urban projects for children, while highlighting the role of artists in the creation of such places.
Originality and creativity of the idea
«Playground Stage» is a unique artwork that merges art, functionality, and community engagement, offering a fresh approach to playground design in the Latvian context. The installation is based on architect Simon Nicholson’s loose parts theory, which emphasizes that the ability to shape one’s environment and rearrange its elements fosters creativity and imagination. According to Nicholson, this ability is especially important in childhood, as regularly creating their own environment and rules helps children gain experience and understand their rights and ability to influence their surroundings. This awareness later encourages children to become civically engaged, confident youth and adults. In line with Nicholson’s theory, many of the elements in the «Playground Stage» are freely movable. Children are invited to mix and combine elements as they see fit, creating their own world. Thus, the «Playground Stage» is not only a unique result of artistic creation but also a source of inspiration that sparks every child’s creativity.
Definition of the problem and the relevance of the applied solutions
The project was initiated by the Valmiera Municipality, which sought a temporary solution for the outdoor space of the upcoming contemporary art venue KURTUVE. The courtyard, which usually serves as a parking lot for municipal employees, plays an important role in KURTUVE’s physical and emotional accessibility. By replacing the parking function with art, the municipality encouraged residents to reconsider the functionality and potential of the space. At the beginning of the project, two challenges were identified – the location and the natural flow of people. This led to the core question: what is missing in the city? Research showed that there were only a few playgrounds in the city center, primarily suited for younger children. Additionally, when creating the youth recreation zone “Forest,” one of the playgrounds had been removed, causing public dissatisfaction. The «Playground Stage» provided a short-term solution to this issue, became a beloved site for locals, and highlighted the often-overlooked needs of children in urban planning.
Co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation during the realisation process
The «Playground Stage» serves as a successful example of co-creation, bringing together local government, businesses, and the creative sector. The city, together with a creative team, analyzed the needs of local residents, and the collected insights formed the basis for the spatial solution developed by the artist. Materials for the sculpture were largely provided by Latvijas Finieris, while 100 meters of reflective material came from Valmiera glass production company Valmieras Stikla Šķiedra. The production and installation of the elements were handled by the Latvian company BONUSS W. The project encouraged continued collaboration beyond the initial launch, with the «Playground Stage» often serving as a community gathering space beyond children’s play. During the summer, the site hosted temporary architecture and urban design workshops, activities for the Valmiera Summer Theater Festival, and guest performances by the Riga Circus. The green zone’s lounge furniture was appreciated by both parents and other city residents, and in the evenings the courtyard and installation became a popular meeting place for youth.
Functionality and technological solutions
The sculpture consists of a platform (9×6×0.2 m), fixed shapes, and movable elements. The platform ensures stability and holds five large-scale interactive sculptural forms with irregular shapes; a staircase is attached to the “tower.” Movable elements include 8 cubes, 4 rectangular prisms, 3 cylinders, 2 ropes, and 2 nets that can be repositioned using anchors placed in various locations. Their size and weight were designed with the safety of young children in mind, minimizing the risk of dangerous constructions. A five-part movable curtain faces the street. The plywood structures are built using a technique that conserves material and conceals joints, reducing injury risk. The fixed elements are left in a natural tone and treated with a sustainable coating, while the movable ones are painted. The stage is connected to a green area by a small step that serves as a seating area for parents. Five unpainted, uniquely shaped lounge chairs are placed in the green area. An information board nearby explains the principles of using the installation.
Aesthetics and other experiential dimensions
The «Playground Stage» offers an aesthetically distinctive solution for children’s playgrounds in Latvia’s public outdoor spaces. Its soft color palette contrasts with traditionally vivid playgrounds, creating a harmonious environment that stimulates not through visual overload, but through endless play possibilities. The parent seating area blends into this aesthetic without visual separation. Plywood was chosen both as a sustainable material with a pleasant wooden texture and for its symbolic association with a blank canvas, reinforcing the playground as a space for children’s imagination. The reflective curtain references the Valmiera Theater, which temporarily resides in KURTUVE. The selected concept, materials, and design allow every child to become the dramaturg of their own imaginative story on the «Playground Stage».
Economic significance, sustainability and circularity
The sculpture ensemble was created as a reusable urban object for the summer season, planned to be relocated to different sites in Valmiera municipality in coming summers. Its design incorporates renewable and sustainable materials; the joints are crafted to make the structures durable and easy to refurbish. The unpainted parts are coated to age evenly, taking on a silvery tone over time. Thanks to the modular design, the layout and density of the playground can be adjusted to suit various environments and surfaces, making it adaptable and economically efficient. Off-season, the movable elements are distributed among Valmiera’s educational and cultural institutions. Some were repainted and used in the exhibition design for “Hi, Niklāvs Strunke” at the Valmiera Museum. Initiated by Gauja Riverside Secondary School, all movable elements will be used indoors for play activities until the next summer, helping address the shortage of play zones. Before being reinstalled outdoors, the elements will be restored to their original colors.
Social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility
The «Playground Stage» is a socially impactful project that fosters inclusion for children and families. Its design is grounded not in adult assumptions about children’s needs but in theories that prioritize those needs and trust children’s ability to assess risk independently. The platform ensures accessibility even for the youngest children. The children’s and parents’ zones are not visually separated, and their atypical design has piqued adult interest in joining the play, encouraging intergenerational interaction in urban space. In future summers, the installation will be placed in other locations within Valmiera municipality, expanding access to a wider audience, including those without nearby playgrounds. Although a short-term solution, the project has sparked discussions about the lack of contemporary playgrounds in cities, encouraging long-term change. Observing the success of its first summer, one can conclude that the site has also built public trust, dispelling the myth that anything not bolted down will be stolen.
