Spaces for Children – Playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck

İrem Uluışık31 July 20193 Mins read401

Spaces for Children – Playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck

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After the Second World War, the Dutch cities were devastated and the children were the greatest victims of the war. Also, in the post-war period, there was an incredible increase in the number of children. (Baby boomer generation) However, there was not enough space for these children to spend time. Soon after, a project emerged to develop the city and to heal children. With this project, Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck started designing playgrounds.

Although there were some playgrounds in the city, most were private property, so unused land was preferred. Instead of a rational and functional approach that was very popular at that time,a modular and participatory understanding of architecture which I think was more important for child development and pedagogic was adopted.

Spaces for Children – Playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck example

Designs and applications, which first started in Amsterdam in 1947, continued increasingly. Until 1978, Aldo van Eyck designed many playgrounds. He created more than 700 playgrounds, but only a few of them remain intact today. All game elements were equal, there was no hierarchical order between them. These playgrounds were spaces where architecture and imagination worked together. At the same time, the play equipment had the task of stimulating children’s minds. Kids were not only showing physical exertion; they were developing by speaking and watching. There were toys such as sandpits, tumbling bars and hemispherical jungle gym.

Spaces for Children – Playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck detail

The design of the play equipment was minimalist, making them open to interpretation. Thus, the children were able to perceive the space as they wanted.

Spaces for Children – Playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck overview

Also, the fields had modular characters. These consisted of compositions that caused infinite variations. And these playgrounds aimed to create a new spaces/squares by interacting with the urban environment. Some of the books you can access to get more information: “Aldo Van Eyck: Seventeen Playgrounds, Amsterdam” and “Aldo Van Eyck: The Playgrounds and the City”

The Philosophy Behind the Playgrounds

Aldo van Eyck belonged to Team 10, a group of architects who challenged the rigid functionalism of the earlier modern movement. He believed that a city should be measured by how well it serves its smallest and most vulnerable inhabitants. For van Eyck, the playground was not leftover space but a meaningful threshold between the home and the wider urban realm. By placing simple play elements on vacant lots, gap sites, and forgotten corners, he stitched ordinary neighborhoods back together and gave children a reason to claim the street as their own.

Designing for the Imagination

The genius of these playgrounds lay in their restraint. Instead of dictating a single use, van Eyck created abstract forms such as round sandpits, low concrete arches, and the iconic tubular climbing domes. A child could decide whether a metal frame was a spaceship, a fortress, or a mountain. This open-ended quality encouraged cooperative, self-directed play and allowed the same equipment to feel fresh to different age groups. The geometry was clean and almost sculptural, which let the equipment blend into a wide range of urban settings without overwhelming them.

Lessons for Contemporary Urban Design

Van Eyck’s approach still offers practical guidance for planners today. First, small interventions scattered across a city can have a larger cumulative effect than a few large parks. Second, public space designed with children in mind tends to benefit everyone, since parents, caregivers, and neighbors naturally gather where children play. Third, durable and ambiguous design ages well because it does not depend on trends or branded equipment. Many cities now revisit these ideas under the banner of tactical urbanism and child-friendly planning.

Preservation and Legacy

Of the more than 700 playgrounds van Eyck created, only a handful survive in their original form, as many were removed during later redevelopment. Renewed appreciation for his work has led to documentation efforts, exhibitions, and the careful restoration of a few sites in Amsterdam. His playgrounds remain a touchstone for architects who want to prove that thoughtful design can serve community life rather than just buildings. The takeaway is simple and lasting: when a city makes room for play, it makes room for human connection.

Written by

İrem Uluışık

İrem Uluışık is a contributor to illustrarch, where she writes about architecture and design with a particular focus on famous architects, floor plans, and notable building projects. Her work helps readers understand how landmark schemes are organised and what makes their plans work.