How can a playground blend into a historic environment ?
In Dubrovnik, Proludic created a bespoke playground inspired by the iconic fortifications of the city’s historic Old Town.
Location
Croatia
Client
City of Dubrovnik
Sector
Local Authority
Project
Bespoke playground
Age group
Ages 6+
Capacity
25+ users
Bringing History to Life Through Play
Located at the entrance to Dubrovnik’s historic old town, this playground was designed to integrate harmoniously into a protected heritage environment while providing a modern and inspiring play experience.
The city sought to replace an outdated playground with a new play area that would tell the story of Dubrovnik, enhance the appeal of this busy public space, and create a welcoming place where residents and visitors could meet, relax and play.
More than simply replacing existing equipment, the objective was to create a destination that extends the site’s cultural identity and transforms play into a meaningful way of discovering the city’s rich heritage.
When Fortifications Become a Playground
To meet this challenge, Proludic designed a bespoke playground built from sustainably sourced natural timber, inspired by Dubrovnik’s world-famous defensive walls.
Conceived as both a landscape and play design project, the structure reinterprets the city’s most iconic architectural features, transforming towers, walls and passageways into imaginative play experiences. Children can climb, explore and invent their own adventures while discovering the spirit of this remarkable historic city.
This project demonstrates how bespoke playground design can become a powerful tool for enhancing cultural heritage while supporting the ambitions of local authorities, landscape architects and urban designers seeking to integrate play into places with a strong sense of identity.
A bespoke playground can become a powerful way to celebrate local heritage while creating an attractive, welcoming gathering place for families and the wider community.
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Proludic supports landscape architects in creating sustainable recreational spaces by offering equipment made from materials selected for their strength and durability. The company implements an integrated environmental approach, from product design through to manufacturing.
Proludic’s teams optimise the integration of each project into its surroundings, promote responsible resource management, and help meet the sustainable development goals of local authorities and project developers.
A customised playground creates a unique space that is perfectly adapted to the identity of a location and the needs of its users. It helps enhance local heritage, increase the attractiveness of a neighbourhood, and encourage intergenerational interaction.
Thanks to bespoke design, local authorities and landscape architects can incorporate specific themes, shapes or materials that enrich the user experience while contributing to a more sustainable improvement of the living environment.
Robinia wood is a particularly suitable material for creating bespoke playgrounds thanks to its natural strength and long-lasting durability. Renowned for its exceptional robustness, it can withstand the demands of outdoor use over time, including exposure to changing weather conditions, humidity and natural elements.
Beyond its technical qualities, robinia wood brings real aesthetic value to bespoke playgrounds. With its warm tones, natural grain and authentic appearance, it blends harmoniously into outdoor environments, whether urban, landscaped or more natural settings. Each piece of wood has its own unique character, creating a vibrant and elegant finish that transforms the playground into a space that is playful, welcoming and perfectly integrated into its surroundings.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Designed in sustainable natural wood, the structure recreates the fortifications, gates, towers and ramparts that make the city famous. Each play area becomes an invitation to discover local heritage in a new and engaging way.
Beyond its playful purpose, this development contributes to enhancing the urban environment by creating a connection between heritage, culture and leisure.
This project demonstrates that a playground can become a true element of urban design, strengthening a city’s identity while meeting the needs of families and local communities.
