The outdoor playground outside Westfield Arkadia
Since Westfield Arkadia's launch the centre has positioned itself as a facility with a family-oriented offer and services focusing on families with children. The new outdoor playground, opened in 2018, has become another attraction for this group of customers, complementing the commercial and marketing offer for families and kids. The idea behind the playground project was to open the shopping centre to the city by building a playground which will match Arkadia's interior.
To make this possible, unique large-scale elements were used to lay out the playground's area and implement the concept of a visual ribbon, a modern rope climbing and play construction which is also the playground's central point. The space has been divided into functional zones with their particular features. In the entrance zone we have installed original toys and play elements such as hammocks and glowing swings whose colours change when they are in motion.
The play equipment is located between the trees, which gives the space a cosy and relaxing character. A trampoline complex is situated in the central part of the play area.
The playground is framed by an originally designed large wooden bench, or rather a spatial sculpture which can be used in a number of ways, including lying down or sitting. The bench is also equipped with power sockets for charging mobile devices.
The glowing play elements we used to equip the playground include swings, illuminated trees and benches. The square is surrounded by low walls and benches which provide a space to relax as well as forming the playground's borderline. The area is surrounded by plants, a hedge and a natural mix of ornamental grasses and flowering plants which look attractive regardless of the season. Next to the playground there is a bicycle shed with ropes for climbing plants which will turn into a green wall in the future.
The playground's grand opening event was very popular and yielded a 37% increase in the centre's year-on-year footfall. The development and modernization of the area around Arkadia is an example of a comprehensive approach to positioning a shopping centre in its urban, transport and social environment. The entire area in front of Arkadia has been changed. The aim of the investment is to bring the centre closer to the city and respond to the needs of the target group (families with children) as well as creating an additional space for high-profile events corresponding with Arkadia’s urban surroundings.
