SUPERMACHINE STUDIO DESIGNS TOWERING PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE

10Cal Tower in Thailand brings all ages together in a playful structure

Playgrounds are a quintessential part of childhood, but adults are left out of the equation. Too big to play on the child-sized structures, adults are often relegated to tediously waiting around on benches. The 10Cal Tower by Thai architects Supermachine Studio bridges the playground gap by creating a structure upon which both adults and children can play.

The labyrinthine concrete tower is named for the amount of energy expended in climbing from bottom to top, or approximately 10 calories. Adults are suddenly called upon to actively spend time and energy with their child, but also in the name of their own health as they ascend and descend the playground’s ten various routes.

The structure was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Thailand’s biggest construction materials producer, Siam Construction Group. Sponsored by SCG, two other architecture firms were also chosen to build public structures in the same area; DBALP built a public library and DEPT designed a multi-purpose pavilion. All three structures are located along the seaside park of Bangsaen, Thailand.