Children’s Pirate Ship Playset

Inspired by the visual language of the BauHaus, Eames, and other early modernist artwork and object design, our design path investigated the idea of creating a singular piece of furniture that housed multiple forms of play (i.e. pirate ship, rock climbing, monkey bars) to encapsulate the idea of play and human interaction towards children.

Our play structure takes on a strong narrative aesthetic through its physical form and painted imagery. Forms such as the boat, waves, and harp invoke a sense of adventure and allude to Greek mythology and the Little Prince. We explored the idea of the ocean and land, by contrasting organic forms and rectangular sharp edges in the boat. 

Construction for the playground required a CNC, power sanders, drills, screwdriver, wrenches and the bandsaw. Our stable and sturdy structure is enhanced by a double thickness of most elements, L support frames, and the supporting back anchor. On top of the importance of having a functional structure, we wanted to add an emotional level to it. By adding detailed vivid paintings and mimicking the ocean, we were able to make a structure that transports children to the ocean, reminding them that there are no limits when it comes to exploring the planet and all the undiscovered areas. 

The playground was donated to a 5-year old girl in the Providence community, and we hope this safe and fun playset will help her create bonds with friends by rock climbing, playing with the ropes, and crawling up the ladder to reach the sailing ship.