Challenge

Daisy Chain is a unique charity that addresses the needs of children with autism and their families. The charity wanted to provide a sensory play area using a budget of £120,000. The development needed to provide an opportunity for families to experience a genuine sense of adventure within a safe environment.

Solution

The inspiration behind this design was a genuine 'eureka' moment for the designers at Proludic. A member of the company's staff has a brother with autism, and she understands the condition first hand. She helped Proludic to realise that providing a challenging and imaginative environment was going to be key to the success of the project. She spoke to Proludic about her brother's love of numbers, list-making and patterns, which in turn led to the creation of the design concept.

The existing site resembled the shape of a pocket watch, and Proludic used this resemblance to influence the form and content of the playground space. Examples of this include a futuristic Nautilus vessel and the chunky cog surface details.

Outcome

Altogether, the design offers a layered, playful and exciting experience for the children at Daisy Chain.

Client testimonial

Councillor Ken Dixon said: "It is wonderful to see such a fantastic new facility in Stockton that, I am sure, will prove invaluable to the families who rely on the support services provided by Daisy Chain."