Gällstad, Sweden

A Magical Castle-Themed Playground

Creating Play Without Boundaries

Our proposal for this new playground was guided by one key idea: to spark adventurous, challenging play with high play value across all ages. Designed for children aged 0-5 and 6-12, the layout connects these age groups in a shared play experience that encourages collaboration and social interaction.

The playground follows a fairytale theme of castles, princesses, knights, and dragons - bringing children into a world filled with imagination and storytelling. From the moment visitors enter, the castle and playhouse welcome them into a magical setting, while quieter areas like the swing section invite relaxation and social play.

Key Play Features

UniMix Castle
The centrepiece of the playground is a towering castle structure designed for children of all ages. With different zones tailored to various ability levels, the castle offers:

• A challenging tower section for older children
• A mid-level play area for those ready to explore new skills
• A lower section for younger children to safely climb, slide, and discover

Themed details such as battlements, turrets, barricades, and bridges let children role-play as brave knights and princesses defending their castle from dragons. Curved tube slides and straight slides with playful add-ons provide both thrill and creativity. Accessible features ensure children of all abilities can take part in the adventure.

Playhouse
A cozy themed playhouse connected to the castle invites the youngest children to crawl, role-play, and interact with tactile play panels. Hidden nooks and playful barriers encourage imagination and social interaction.

Sand Play
A sandbox with the Flower sand table sparks creativity, offering a tactile experience where little ones can build their own sandcastles.

Swings
The swing set includes a variety of seats - single, baby, group swing, and the unique Tango swing, which allows an older child or adult to swing face-to-face with a younger child.

Springers Lucky & Leya
Spring animals promote both solo and group play, supporting creativity, social skills, turn-taking, and physical development.

Balance Trail Wiggler
A dynamic balance course that challenges children to coordinate, jump, bounce, and collaborate - building motor skills, problem-solving, and communication.

Accessibility & Inclusion

The playground was designed to welcome every child, regardless of ability, and to support a wide range of play types - social, physical, sensory, and creative.

Neurodiverse children (ADHD/ADD & autism): Surfaces like wood chips burn energy while developing balance and strength. Dynamic play features such as slides, climbing sections, and the friendship swing provide stimulating options, while castle hideouts offer calm retreats.

Reduced mobility: Artificial grass surfacing ensures accessible routes to the playhouse and swings. The friendship swing supports children who need full body assistance. The castle also includes easy-to-reach play levels.

Visual impairments: Strong Colour contrasts highlight key play elements such as climbing walls, play panels, and spring riders.

Hearing impairments: Ground-level activities such as the balance trail provide safe and engaging physical challenges.

Outcome

This playground transforms everyday play into a storybook adventure. By combining themed design, age-bridging activities, and inclusive play solutions, it creates a safe and inspiring space where every child - princess, knight, or dragon - can find their place in the story.

• Location: Gällstad, Sweden
• Year Completed: 2025