We’re always impressed with creative design reuse, but this children’s playground made from recycled shipping containers takes the cake for one of the most imaginative examples of shipping container architecture we’ve seen. Known as the Skinners Playground, this kidscape puts four discarded shipping containers to use as the primary spaces for childhood adventures. Designed by Melbourne-based Phooey Architects, the children’s activity center reconfigures the containers, as well as plenty of other recycled and salvaged materials, into a fun-filled park for the young imagination.
Many of the structural elements in the Skinners Playground are simply container cut outs that have been repositioned. The stair railings, shade overhangs, and balconies are all parts of abandoned containers. The materials are left with tell tale signs of origin, giving a feeling similar to kid-constructed tree houses and forts from found objects.
The windows, carpet tiles, and fasteners at Skinners are also on their second life, reclaimed from the waste stream to bring function and fun to the playground. Through the architect’s zero waste approach, Skinners Playground proved to be an economically sound endeavor, as well as environmentally friendly way to bring recreation into the backyard of kids living in South Melbourne. Even though architect-designed, the program at Skinners is kid driven, with local children adding touches like hand-painted murals.
+ Phooey Architects
Via The Cool Hunter
This is so awesome! There is nothing more exciting then seeing people build a new structure out of old materials- especially ones people usually consider “ugly”.
I just saw this while I was studying architecture abroad in Melbourne. It was amazing to see such a great example of green design, even though its quite tucked away and doesn\\\’t allow adults in without children.
There is no reason this kind of innovative reuse of materials should not move into main stream use, in fact common sense would suggest cheep affordable housing for many reasons could be facilitated in this way.
If reuse of materials can be implemented to over come some of the basic human needs like shelter, then why is any person still homeless.
It could be argued as a culture/species we pride our selves on not facilitating solutions, in fact with this and other examples of cheep highly usable instant housing/shelter, it possible shows we have a very long way to go before we can clam any kind of general sustainability for how we are doing life.
Anthony Foo
Skyfarms Australia