At Playhood Club co-working meets child care and calls for ingenious multipurpose furniture
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We worked with Playhood club's founding director Karen to plan and build a flexible childcare setting in the grounds of her co-working space for parents in North London's Crouch End. Together we transformed an existing garden building into a space that supports early years development with a range of mobile furniture and all the interior fittings needed.
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Playhood share an understanding with CO-DB that the quality of space acts as a behavioural influence. Together we developed an ambition to make this micro space as adaptable as possible, enabling it to be a nurturing and explorational environment for children, rich with materiality and character.
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As designers and makers who work closely with clients to understand their needs we were well placed to tackle Playhood's unique requirements and find creative, bespoke solutions.
In the kitchen space we introduced an additional mobile bar unit that integrates a folding gate to cordon off the kitchen. On its reverse children's book display shelves form the backdrop to the reading corner. A mobile storage unit integrates with fixed cupboards lining the back wall and doubles as a play den and sleeping hub. It can be taken out during the day or cleared away to open the room up. |
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All photos ©Playhoodclub 2019
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Open, child height storage runs along the opposite wall, framing the windows with reading ledges. Coats, shoes, toys and art materials are all displayed and accessible to children. The unit also features an integrated exploration table with lightbox and magnetic surfaces.
In Playhood's compact and intimate space furniture performs multiple functions to utilise the space; a location's dimensions does not have to be a limitation but instead can become an opportunity to play, grow and learn. |