Elisabeth Morrow School PLAYGROUND

Englewood, New Jersey

The Lower School/Chilton House Playground was the second phase of construction of the playground master plan we prepared for the Elisabeth Morrow School. It is designed for the school’s youngest students from Nursery through 2nd grade. The playground is centered around a large shady oval and a variety of play equipment offers a variety of physical challenges and opportunities for fantasy play. The playground is designed to accommodate all three grades simultaneously with several discreet play areas linked by a series of paths and open spaces. 

We designed a playhouse as a place for theatrical play including seating for an audience. The playhouse is designed from a child’s point of view.  The building form is an iconic ‘house” scaled to a child with slatted walls that create a sense of enclosure without being completely concealing. Paint colors clearly articulate elements and the rafter ends are cut to resemble animals. The building plinth extends out to form a stage.

The playhouse is featured in “Science of Play.”