Helsinki’s New Computer-Themed Playground

Featured in the setting are keyboard-inspired stairs, a ‘computer tower’ climbing frame and a sandbox shaped to resemble a game console controller. These elements are sure to appeal to tech-fluid Gen Alphas, 58% of whom have a smartphone by the age of 10 (Basis Technologies, 2024).

The playground was designed by Liukas – known for her Hello Ruby book series, which teaches children about hardware, coding and computational thinking – Finnish architecture firm Näkymä Landscape Architects and Danish playground manufacturer Monstrum. Consultants from the City of Helsinki’s Education Division as well as local children were also involved in the conceptual design process.

Offering extended opportunities for learning, the playground enables young visitors to spell their names in binary code (using a binary bead table to convert letters to numbers), hopscotch through a ‘flow chart’ and learn about algorithms as they perform a dance inside a wooden smartphone-shaped platform. These activities are introduced and explained via QR codes positioned on the playground equipment.

Further resources, like colouring pages, activity cards and an audio guide – which can be used by teachers/carers who bring children to the Ruoholahti playground – are available to download on the playground’s website.