Playful Edge

“Playful Edge” is a public playground project in Daelim2-dong, Seoul, designed to reduce cultural and social barriers in a multicultural neighborhood. By using metaphorical concavo-convex modules shaped by urban experiences like storefronts, paths, and skylines, the design creates flexible edges that define various community spaces—playgrounds, parks, and gathering zones—while encouraging fluid movement and interaction. These overlapping modules blur boundaries, allowing people to naturally engage with one another and fostering shared experiences within a dynamic and inclusive urban landscape.

Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

urban regeneration

6,885㎡ / 2,082py

MAR. 2017

Located in Daelim2-dong, Seoul—a neighborhood characterized by high cultural diversity—Playful Edge proposes a new approach to public space that fosters inclusion and interaction. The project responds to the rigid separations often found in urban design by introducing a series of edge modules inspired by everyday urban forms such as storefronts, pedestrian paths, and city skylines. These modules, designed as concavo-convex shapes, redefine boundaries not as limits but as spaces of possibility—elastic, permeable, and socially engaging.

As people move along these sculpted edges, they naturally drift into shared zones that accommodate various community functions: children's play, sports, casual gatherings, and performances. The arrangement allows these areas to expand or contract depending on need, encouraging spontaneous interaction and layered use. Rather than imposing a fixed program, the playground evolves with the rhythms of the neighborhood, offering a soft and adaptable framework that embraces the complexities of urban life and cultural coexistence.