RE-IMAGINE PLAY DESIGN COMPETITION

DENVER, COLORADO

“Re-imagine Play” is a nationwide competition staged by the City of Denver, calling for innovative play environment design for City Park. Didier Design Studio worked collaboratively with C2 to create the 2nd place winning entry, “OVER, UNDER, THROUGH: A park for exploratory play”. The design entry looks to the cultural and natural history of Denver to provide the inspiration for the park’s organizational framework. The braided structure of the plan reflects the meandering forms of the South Platte River, forming a network of interconnected paths and “play starters”: design elements that encourage exploration, imagination, interaction, and unscripted play. A sculpted ground plane with 3-dimensional play elements encourage children to move Over, Under and Through the park, revealing the city structure as a dream world. Celebrating local culture and ecology and emphasizing inclusivity and community involvement with a variety of activities and programs, the design makes play a visible part of the urban environment.