The structures needed to function as more than finished play equipment. The brief called for pieces that could be activated by children over time, woven with willow branches, grasses, and other local plant materials gathered during summer camp programming. The design had to meet full CSA Z614 compliance on its own, while also serving as an open armature for ongoing, hands-on transformation. A secondary challenge was creating a genuine sensory experience at ground level without raising fall heights above compliance thresholds.
Real Life fabricated the structures in steel, designed to perform independently as compliant play equipment while inviting children to weave organic materials into their forms. The steel armatures have since been transformed by camp participants, taking on a more organic character with each season. For the Turtle Shell climber, fall heights were kept below 18 inches, allowing the structure to be set within a naturalized planting bed of dense mint, giving children climbing through the nets the unexpected sensation of moving through a cloud of fragrance.
