The brief for this playcafe led to interesting conversations and iterations of a playful free flowing space.

Located in a basement of a residence, the structure had a strong pre-existing column grid we had to work with. One of the ideas was to incorporate these elements into the interior playscape in such a way that they would feel like an integral part of the space.

We decided to zone the activities along the walls of the room, while letting them bleed into a central open space. This allowed us to create multiple experiences while maintaining free movement and visual connectivity.

The playscape is divided into multiple zones. These are demarcated by soft curves articulated by different types of play activities.

The pretend play zone is designed as a playful space with multiple levels and nooks allowing young minds to stimulate their imagination as well as foster their motor skills. The walls of this zone are of varying heights.

These pockets contain different pretend play activities, while a structure at the upper level consisting of a bridge, ladder and balcony connects all the spaces as one.

A crochet playground made by Happy Threads is a defining element. Suspended above a soft ball pit, the crochet net creates varying scales of playful experiences offset by two crochet ball swings.

In order to maintain the required functional separation for the cafe while retaining a visual connection, we introduced a screen made of wood and glass between the two spaces. The curved screen creates a playful divide, with small shelves for toys at different levels and the wooden structure frames all the different parts of the play area. The transparency lent by the glass allows parents to keep an eye on their kids while relaxing in the cafe.

The floor is defined by soft mats of different colors complementing the light oak wood and whites used in the space.

Design: Open Door Design Studio & Workshop
Lead Architect: Shehrebanu Noorudin
Project Architect: Anas Faisal
Technical Drawings: Asim Shayan
Contractor: Jameel Mughal
Crochet Playground: Happy ThreadsPK
Photography: Ameenah Mansoor