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PROJECT, URBAN / LANDSCAPE 01.07.2025

Zaha Cultural Center 0–3 Year Old Playgrounds

#children #playground #superpool #urban95 #van leer foundation #aqaba #jordan

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As part of the Urban95 initiative by the Van Leer Foundation, Superpool has designed a new playground in Aqaba, Jordan, grounded in the belief that outdoor play is essential for early childhood development—supporting physical growth, social interaction, and cognitive development.

In Jordan, Urban95 is working to integrate early childhood programs within Zaha Cultural Centers—public spaces that serve children and families across the country. A core strategy of the program is embedding play directly into neighborhoods, ensuring that families have access to safe, stimulating environments close to home.

In Aqaba, Superpool designed play spaces that reflect the local landscape and the sense of beauty and exploration it offers. The playground includes three thematic zones:

The Mountain features hills with slides that turn climbing and sliding into adventurous movement, helping children build strength and confidence.

The Mountain

The Desert includes sand pools, boats, and playhouses that inspire imaginative play and encourage social interaction.

The Desert

The Forest offers a shaded, sensory-rich environment that invites calm, focused exploration.

The Forest

Designed for place and built using locally sourced materials and manufacturing, the playground is a model for how thoughtful, site-specific design can support early childhood development, foster community connection, and strengthen ties to land and nature.

Tags:

ZAHA CULTURAL CENTER 0–3 YEAR OLD PLAYGROUNDS
Superpool
PHOTOGRAPHY
Van Leer Foundation Archive
CREDITS

Project Name: Zaha Cultural Center 0–3 Year Old Playgrounds
Location: Aqaba, Jordan
Project Office: Superpool
Design Team: Selva Gürdoğan, Derya İyikul, Münevver Latifoğlu, Gregers Tang Thomsen
Counselor: Nordic Playground Institute Turkiye (Playground Safety), Void Studio (Graphic Design)
Client: Zaha Cultural Centers
Main Contractor: Zaha Cultural Centers
Project Start Year: 2024
Construction Completion Year: 2025
Area: 1,120 m2

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