Playground

On the first floor, away from the crowds on the main circulation routes, the collective Assemble creates a 700 m2 playground for ages four and up, commissioned by Kanal. The main space takes the form of an imaginary landscape of hills, recalling the piles of coal once transported along the canal, as well as volcanoes and distant planets. Ropes, tyres, masks and other loose elements encourage children to experiment freely. The landscape extends into a workshop space dedicated to play, movement and intergenerational encounters.

The design draws inspiration from the world of children and was developed in close collaboration with schools from the surrounding neighbourhoods. It draws on the legacy of British and Scandinavian post-war adventure playgrounds, often designed and shaped by children themselves, as well as on "playscapes" imagined by 20th-century artists and architects. At its core, the project affirms play as a fundamental source of freedom, imagination and transformation – within society at large and within Kanal. 

Assemble is a collective of architects and artists working at the intersection of architecture and visual art. Together with their sister project, PlayWorkStudio, they explore the design of spaces and practices for free play. In 2015, Assemble was awarded the Turner Prize for its work with the Granby Four Streets Community Land Trust in Liverpool.