An Innovative Playground Designed by Earthscape and Kengo Kuma & Associates
Moku-Yama is not just a playground—it’s a landmark in interactive design, blending architecture, sculpture, and play into one immersive experience. This visionary project is the result of a collaboration between Earthscape, an award-winning playground design company from Canada, and Kengo Kuma & Associates, the globally renowned Japanese architecture firm known for its organic materials, transparency, and nature-inspired aesthetics. What makes this collaboration unique is how it merges custom playground design with the principles of Japanese architecture. Earthscape specializes in bespoke play structures and sculptural landscapes, while Kengo Kuma’s expertise lies in reinterpreting traditional building techniques with contemporary materials. The result is Moku-Yama, a striking timber playground structure that redefines how public spaces engage both children and adults.
The Design: A Playable Wooden Landscape
Moku-Yama is a sculptural wooden play structure designed to create an awe-inspiring experience from every angle. The structure features sustainably sourced timber logs arranged vertically in dynamic clusters, forming an undulating landscape of peaks and valleys. The logs, appearing almost weightless, create a floating effect, enhancing the sense of wonder. The design is available in three different configurations, with each module reaching up to 10 feet (3 meters) high. The structure is engineered for safety, with hidden structural posts that support the towering logs. Children and adults alike can explore the top surfaces for climbing and balancing, while the cave-like formations beneath—resembling wooden stalactites—invite crawling, hiding, and discovery.
Beyond Traditional Playgrounds: A Space for All Ages
Unlike conventional playgrounds, Moku-Yama offers an open-ended play experience that appeals to children, teenagers, and even adults. The structure encourages:
• Physical activity through climbing, balancing, and jumping
• Imaginative play with naturalistic formations that invite exploration
• Sensory engagement through the organic textures of solid timber
• Architectural appreciation, blurring the lines between public art and functional design
Earthscape’s original concept aimed to create sculptural playgrounds that go beyond standard swings and slides. The Kengo Kuma team responded with over a dozen conceptual models, each pushing the boundaries of playground architecture. Through rigorous prototyping, engineering adjustments, and third-party safety evaluations, Moku-Yama emerged as the ultimate fusion of design, functionality, and play.
A New Standard for Interactive Public Spaces
Moku-Yama is more than just a modern playground design—it’s an architectural statement that seamlessly integrates form, function, and engagement. By combining playground innovation with sculptural artistry, it transforms public spaces into immersive environments that inspire movement, creativity, and exploration.
As cities and urban planners seek more engaging and sustainable public spaces, Moku-Yama sets a new benchmark for interactive play structures that merge art, architecture, and nature.
