award-winning multidisciplinary firm ballistic architecture machine (BAM) completes its public/private park, ‘indigo playground’, in beijing’s jiuxiangaio district. the playground offers two large separate spaces, designed for the needs of two very different age levels. the first area is perfectly square and is carved into the ground, framed by long wooden benches. this perimeter of parent seating creates a safe play zone for the kids to run wild. to further enhance the sense of closure and protection, a tensile canopy of orange discs floats overhead.  the discs cast a checkerboard of shadows across the soft play surfaces, cooling and shading the children.

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
photos of the packed playgrounds are often posted to social media with the tag ‘people mountain, people sea’ — a chinese idiom meaning people everywhere
all images © jonathan leijonhufvud

 

 

ballistic architecture machine’s playground invites the more adventurous kids further into the park, where the ‘king of the hill’ playground is located. taking its namesake from the children’s game, a thrilling mountain occupies the center of the space. arrays of pipes, climbing holds, and climbing ropes offer children a range of challenges to reach the coveted peak, where a nest-like lookout on top of the pinnacle is home to an acer truncatum tree. 

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
the square structure features a wooden seating area around the perimeter

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
the children can enjoy a full day at the park while being shaded by the orange discs

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
the discs cast a checkerboard of shadows across the soft play surfaces

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
the playground is nestled among beijing’s beautiful greenery

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
the playground also includes islands featuring swings, spinners a climbing structure

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
luxurious white marble slides offer summiteers an express routes down the mountain

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
another climbing structure that leads to the peak of the ‘hill’

BAM's 'indigo playground' features discs that cast a checkerboard of shadows across the park
details of the colored walls and the white marble slide

 

 

project info:

 

instagram handle: @ballisticbam
project name: indigo park playgrounds
location: 22 jiuxianqiao road, chaoyang district, beijing, china
landscape architect: ballistic architecture machine (bam)
site area: 1780 sqm
client: swire and sinoocean
photographer: jonathan leijonhufvud