'Build, create, imagine' - bringing David Rockwell's latest design to life

'I wanted to create a space to free up kids to do what they do best: build, create, imagine,' says David Rockwell of his project to build a new kind of playground in New York's Lower Manhattan.

Inspired by his work at Ground Zero and watching his own children at play, the world-renowned architect came up with the idea of an open, multi-level space, with large sand and water features and a variety of loose parts such as building blocks. With a non-prescriptive focus Imagination Playground offers a changing array of elements that allows children to design their own course of play and constantly reconfigure their play environment. 

After five years of research the project opened in August 2010. Following its success several more playground projects are in the offing, with potential sites including the South Bronx in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and the Middle East.