We were invited by the BoaVista Palhano condominium to design a small children’s playground adjacent to its social club. The space occupies a garden at the entrance of the ensemble, shaped by the gentle curve of the road and the site’s topography. The shape of the site, which resembles a boat sail, inspired the project's layout and its playful character.
Due to its proximity to the street, the playground demanded solutions that guaranteed security without losing integration with the surroundings. The terrain was lowered in relation to the street level, and the enclosure was built with stacked stone walls, continuing the materiality adopted throughout the condominium. In this manner, the playground preserves the view of the Serra da Moeda mountain range, a constant presence in the local landscape.
More than just a space for toys, the project was guided by the desire to create a territory of imagination. The objective was to propose a place that, by its very nature, would instigate make-believe, meeting, and communal interaction. This approach aligns with the thinking of architects such as Aldo van Eyck and Herman Hertzberger, who saw architecture as a tool for collective and spontaneous play.
Based on the diagonals of the trapezoidal site, paths and sectors were defined, creating an active topography that becomes part of the playful dynamic. Collective slides, tunnels, climbing elements, and small hiding spots compose a scenario that stimulates children’s bodies and curiosity, while an amphitheater, a stage, and seating areas welcome parents and caregivers. The result is a space of intimate scale but full of possibilities — a small world of discoveries.
