Taiga · CLIENT: Taiga
The Ural Forest series features modular playground equipment designed as geometric abstractions of local nature. Large asymmetrical tree structures, bear themed playhouses, and ant inspired elements facilitate varied play scenarios for multiple age groups. Constructed from stainless steel and larch wood, the units are engineered for extreme weather using parametric software and reinforced foundations. The modular system ensures efficient transport and assembly. Features include internal spiral labyrinths and communication pipes, combining physical challenge with social interaction.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Ural Forest is a series of children playground equipment designed in sculptural, geometric shapes to compliment contemporary urban landscape. The large Tree structures encourage active play in all weather conditions, helping children experience controlled risk responsibly. Smaller playhouses Bears and Mushrooms support roleplay, light activity, and interaction between different age groups. The Ants and Leaves open structures offer safe conditions for physical training to the youngest visitors.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Single Tree 8400 x 4300 x 9700
Two Trees set 18900 x 7800 x 9700
Three Trees set 19500 x 6300 x 11300
Bears 4700 x 1400 x 2500
Two Mushrooms set 6200 x 3100 x 4900
One Mushroom 5300 x 3200 x 2000
Three Ants set 4100 x 2600 x 1200
Ant slide 3300 x 2400 x 1900
Three Leaves set 2700 x 2300 x 1900
Leaf platform 1400 x 2200 x 700
Leaves and logs set 4900 x 4500 x 1300
Leaf with speaker 2200 x 600 x 1400
Climbing Leaf 1 1500 x 600 x 1900
Climbing Leaf 2 1700 x 1400 x 1800 - Tags
- Playground equipment, children development, active play, social play, collaborative play, public space, wooden architecture, landscape design, nature, local identity
- Production Technology
- Equipment is made out of stainless steel and larch wood to withstand extreme weather conditions. To tackle transportation and assembly, the structures are divided into modules that fit standard trucks to be assembled on site as construction sets. Stability of the Trees construction was ensured by enhancing the main beam and foundations according to wind and snow loads calculations. To facilitate the workflow the parametric software was used and universal joints solutions implemented.
- Design Challenge
- The goal was ambitious: to create a play environment to be an urban attraction point for residents and city visitors, and a new iconic visual landscape of Yekaterinburg city. To tackle it we designed every element representing local symbols of the nature of the Urals. Another great challenge was engineering, production, and pre-assembly testing. Teamwork of experts, iterative design, on-site upgrades and supervision after installation is what allowed us to deliver high quality and reliable solution.
- Project Duration
- The project started in 2018 and finished in 2025. The address: 15, Stepana Razina st., Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Region, Russia, 620063, 56.825640, 60.608933
- Operation Flow
- The series is designed to host games for children of all ages. The youngest ones are physically training and play cooperatively in a separated zone with Ants and Leaves equipment. In the larger zone of Forest, older children enjoy active play in the Trees. They climb the inner spiral labyrinth, through interchanging closed spaces and open lattice structures, to slide down the impressive slides as a reward. Inside the Bear playhouses there are distance communication pipes that foster roleplay.
- Research
- We joined the Iset River embankment improvement project as play environment experts at the invitation of the S&P landscape firm. The site was based on the architects' proposed "Ural Forest" concept. Our team's subsequent work transformed this idea into a fully-fledged project with unique engineering and well-thought-out play scenarios. Zoning and interaction between objects were established, making the site vibrant, logical, and safe.
- Inspiration
- The company is located in the Ural region, covered with forests of deciduous and coniferous trees, inspiring series. The Trees were designed asymmetrical to look different from every side, just as in nature. Among them live Bears - common residents of the forest. Chanterelle mushrooms are famous and loved in the region, inspiring the smaller playhouses. Ants placed among leaves are tiny, but they are the most hardworking and strong forest tenants, teaching children collaboration.
Press releases are available in 2 languages.