Ten colourful playgrounds that spark children's imaginations

From rooftop play areas to interactive indoor landscapes, playgrounds are no longer confined to the outdoors. We've rounded up a selection of colourful play spaces that transform traditional ideas of play.

Whether nestled inside shopping malls, perched atop schools or integrated into urban settings, these vibrant designs spark children's imaginations and prove that play knows no bounds.

Read on for ten innovative and colourful playgrounds from Madrid to Guangzhou:

Nickerson Gardens Playground, USA, by NBBJ

American architecture studio NBBJ collaborated with musician Flea from the rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the renovation of Nickerson Gardens Playground in Los Angeles' Watts neighbourhood.

Recycled material was used for the play surfaces and painted in fade-resistant orange and yellow, complementing the slides, swings, and carousel designed for the community's children.

Find out more about Nickerson Gardens Playground ›

Tianjin 4A Sports Park, China, by Ballistic Architecture Machine

Located in Tianjin, China, this sports and play area provides locals with a multipurpose activity area that is divided into four quadrants with different functions.

Designed by international studio Ballistic Architecture Machine, the project incorporates a variety of colours and patterns to "rethink the role of parks in dense cities", the studio said.

Find out more about Tianjin 4A Sports Park ›

Landscape for Play, Spain, by Aberrant Architecture

London-based practice Aberrant Architecture transformed a former Madrid slaughterhouse into Landscape for Play, a playground inspired by the work of Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck.

Located in Matadero Madrid's Intermediae gallery, the temporary installation features a colourful patterned floor with playful elements, including a red hexagonal prism with a ladder, stepping stones and a blue doorway.

Find out more about Landscape for Play ›

Red Dunes Playtopia, China, by XISUI Design

Chinese studio XISUI Design created this Guangzhou playground with sloping red dunes and cavernous spaces, inspired by mountains and caves.

Built above an underground parking unit, its playful hills and arches encourage climbing and exploration, while hidden areas beneath the concrete shell evoke the atmosphere of a cave.

Find out more about Red Dunes Playtopia ›

Breakwater, USA, by Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster

Canadian designers Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster repurposed wave breakers to create climbing frames for Breakwater, a concrete sky-blue playground in New York.

Made from dolosse – heavy prefabricated concrete blocks normally used to prevent coastal erosion – the structures were arranged into a playable sculpture and coated in polyurea, a spray-on non-slip waterproof coating.

Find out more about Breakwater ›

Shenzhen Neobio Family Park, China, by X+ Living

Occupying the atrium of a shopping centre in China, the Shenzhen Neobio Family Park was designed by X+ Living as a "dream city" where children can explore while their parents dine at the restaurant.

The play area features a polka-dot slide leading into a ball pit, giant pastel parasols and children-sized play shops in sweet-shop hues.

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Red House International School, Brazil, by Studio Dlux

This vibrant playground at a nursery and primary school in Brazil features rubber flooring with multicoloured shapes.

São Paulo practice Studio Dlux incorporated curved mounds with tunnels, animal-shaped spring rockers, a chunky noughts-and-crosses board and a towering red slide to encourage climbing and play.

Find out more about Red House International School ›

Children's Playspace, USA, by Architensions

Inspired by clouds, treehouses, tunnels and igloos, this indoor playground in Brooklyn by local studio Architensions features colourful structures designed for sensory exploration.

Created for a wellness professional, it includes playful elements such as an eight-foot-tall green cylinder, known as the Treehouse, that evokes natural landscapes.

Find out more about Children's Playspace ›

YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten, China, by MAD

This bright red and orange rooftop playground tops the YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten in Beijing, standing in striking contrast to the grey roofs of the surrounding traditional buildings.

Designed by Chinese studio MAD, the undulating rooftop play area is connected to the kindergarten through a network of stairs, ramps and slides.

Find out more about YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten ›

Brutalist Playground, UK, by Assemble

Architecture collective Assemble collaborated with British artist Simon Terrill to create a pastel landscape with full-size foam replicas of objects found in mid-20th century British brutalist playgrounds.

The installation includes colourful structures that can be climbed, such as stairs, slopes, platforms, a slide and a large disc with a yellow metal balustrade raised at one end.

Find out more about Brutalist Playground ›

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