playground design Archives

3D

3D Printed Playground by Xisui Design

August 22, 2025 3D

In Jinan, China, XISUI Design’s Boulder Park transforms 13,000 square meters into a surreal playscape of 3D-printed concrete boulders.

Close-up view of a textured, curved concrete structure with layered patterns.

The park feels both ancient and futuristic, with smooth stone-like forms shaped not by erosion, but by robotic precision.

An aerial view of a modern park featuring landscaped grass areas, winding pathways, a play area with colorful surfacing, and various play structures surrounded by trees and boulders.

Children climb, slide, and weave through cavernous tunnels, while quiet nooks and carved seating invite slower moments.

Streams, shading alcoves, and tactile surfaces make the terrain immersive for all ages.

A modern playground featuring sculptural concrete structures, surrounded by green landscaping and trees, with vibrant orange paths and a small rocky area.

The concrete is stronger than standard mixes, proving that additive fabrication can be playful, safe, and structurally sound.

A young girl playing on a textured playground structure while her parents watch and clap in encouragement, surrounded by greenery and bright orange surfacing.

XISUI sees the project as a glimpse into how 3D printing can shape future landscapes, blending ecology, durability, and imagination. Some of their other playground designs use wood, metal, and recycled materials in fascinating ways, showcasing the breadth of their creativity.

A man lifting a child playfully in a modern architectural structure with textured curves, surrounded by greenery.

Aerial view of a modern playground featuring colorful flooring, unique climbing structures resembling natural forms, and several trees and rocks integrated into the design.

Boulder Park is more than a playground. It is an exploration of how technology can create spaces that feel strangely natural, yet entirely new.

A detailed layout plan of a children's playground featuring various play structures like slides, swings, climbing frames, and water features, labeled in both English and Chinese.

We feel like 3D printed playground design makes a lot of sense, and imagine it will become more common, as older playgrounds are remade around the world.

A modern playground featuring a large sculptural climbing structure with holes, surrounded by natural landscaping, rocks, and a swing set in a residential area.

A modern playground featuring unique concrete structures, surrounded by trees and greenery, with an orange rubber surface.

A modern park scene featuring unique, sculptural playground structures and greenery, set against a backdrop of residential buildings.

Aerial view of a modern playground with winding structures and orange pathways, featuring a child playing in a playful environment surrounded by greenery and rocks.

A young child sitting in a unique, large, grey slide-like structure in an outdoor setting, surrounded by trees.

A child climbing on a textured, curved concrete structure that resembles a modern playground feature.

A child walking on a log in a playground surrounded by colorful sand mounds and stones, with trees in the background.

A vibrant playground scene with children playing on various structures, surrounded by greenery and modern buildings in the background.

Children playing near a unique, wavy sculpture in a vibrant outdoor park setting with modern buildings in the background.

Photography by Hu Yihao and Zhou Sheng.

Architecture

Red Dunes Playtopia, a Marvelously Colorful and Undulating Playground

July 19, 2023 Architecture

Playground design is a somewhat dream job for a designer, able to craft forms that children can play and explore on. On certain projects, designers can let their creativity run wild.

Red Dunes Playtopia is a multicolor new playground in China, designed by XISUI Design, and encompassing a large footprint. We like the wave of color that corresponds to the forms, and reinforces the topography of the play spaces.

“The design revolves around utilising the undulating red dunes to provide an attractive terrain for children to come and engage in activities such as running, jumping, and playing”

With ropes, tires, swings, tubes, and slides, the playground allows for all manner of play and exploration. The hill-like structures are especially fun for kids to run and explore on.

Entire Playground and Ice Cream Stand Made From One Huge Poplar Tree

May 2, 2023 Architecture

Endearingly named “Chop Stick“, this playground and ice cream shack was designed for the Indianapolis Museum of Art, providing a small concession stand and swingset for the museum’s grounds.

Using a huge 100 foot yellow poplar tree, the designers incorporated the entire tree’s length into the design, complete with branches intact. The bark was removed to show the beauty of the wood, and keep the installation long lasting.

We love how playful and honest the materials are, using Indiana’s state tree, but in a way that feels inviting and also sophisticated.

Designed by Anders Berensson Architects

From the architect:

“The design is based on the universal notion that you need to sacrifice something in order to make something new. Every product is a compound of different pieces of nature, whether it is a cellphone, a car, a stone floor or a wood board; they have all been harvested in one way or another.

This project is about trying to harvest something as gently as possible so that the source of what we harvest is displayed in a pure, pedagogic and respectful way – respectful to both the source itself and to everyone visiting the building.”