Japanese design firm VUILD has installed a new 3D-printed playground slide called White Loop at the Kiyoharu Art Village in Japan. The structure features a continuous loop design that resembles a Möbius strip, incorporating both climbing and sliding elements for children’s play activities.
The design takes inspiration from Isamu Noguchi’s play sculptures and the Barbapapa children’s books. The structure aims to provide children with an intuitive space for exploration and movement, without the rigid constraints of traditional playground equipment.
VUILD’s development process included studying children’s behavior at existing playgrounds, including Noguchi’s Black Slide Mantra in Sapporo. The designers observed how children naturally interact with play structures and incorporated these insights into their design approach.
The White Loop addresses common challenges found in traditional playground equipment, such as congestion and directional conflicts. By creating a continuous form without distinct sections for climbing or sliding, the structure allows children to move freely between different activities.
The installation features cave-like spaces, organic steps, and sliding surfaces that flow into one another. This integrated design enables children to create their own play patterns while experiencing architectural forms in an accessible way.
Source: designboom.com