The London Festival of Architecture and Dulwich Picture Gallery are excited to announce the six shortlisted teams for the ‘Reimagining Play’ competition, a new initiative to create a playful installation in the Gallery’s sculpture garden.
This innovative competition, launched earlier this year, invited architects, designers, and artists to submit their concepts for an installation that would inspire wonder and joy for visitors of all ages – offering an inclusive welcome to all who explore the gallery’s stunning gardens, transforming the space into a vibrant, interactive environment.
The six shortlisted teams will now receive a £1,000 honorarium to further develop their ideas, working closely with the Gallery’s Programme and Engagement team to engage local communities in a series of participatory workshops.
The shortlisted teams are:
S.o.U.P
S.o.U.P is a collaboration of architects and designers who share a strong passion for community-led architecture. The team consists of Sue Yan, Andrew Kwok, Garrick Chan and Carlos Huerta, with each member bringing their own unique expertise and experience in public engagement and co-design from practising in London, Hong Kong, Monterrey and Palermo. Their past works and involvements range from object-scaled interventions to urban installations, all defined by the strive for greater community participation and a stronger sense of shared ownership in design.
“As a group of young practitioners and young adults, we constantly remind ourselves that, at the heart of it, designing and creating is all about fun, whether it is for ourselves, the community or other users. Play after all is for everybody, and by everybody.”
Projects Office, Dream Networks and Earth Tenders
Projects Office, Dream Networks and Earth Tenders are a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, landworkers and activists. Rooted in London, and part of a global community, we are united by a commitment to create joyful and equitable places and spaces that bring people together, forge connections, and grow a better future. As a team, we have experience of designing with and for communities, co-creating inclusive play spaces, regenerative design and building networks around the culture and practice of growing, working towards spatial, social and food justice.
“Empowering people through play, inclusive design, nature, conversation and connection is at the heart of our design philosophy, and we are looking forward to crystalising years of thought, expertise and experience around play and co-creation to produce a playable piece of interactive art that invites everyone to get involved.”
McCloy + Muchemwa with HoLD Collective
McCloy + Muchemwa is the design and architecture studio of Steve McCloy and Bongani Muchemwa. The studio’s work demonstrates an inventive exploration of design thinking, the artistic process and community participation. As keen collaborators, they enjoy the opportunities for teaming up with other organisations to tackle all manner of public projects… and preconceptions!
HoLD Collective is run by the artist duo Stephanie Jefferies and Sarah Marsh. Their respective specialisms in Play Design, Montessori theory and Sensory-led Design for neurodivergent audiences, bind and elevate their collective practice. Art to hold or be held within, endeavours to challenge and disrupt hierarchical divisions between art and engagement.
“We are excited to spend more time engaging with an institution that we really love and for the prospect of designing a piece for the grounds of the iconic Soane building – we look forward to expanding on our existing knowledge of play safety, accessibility and sensory engagement whilst also developing project-specific methods of community consultation… and, yes, having fun.”
Sett
Sett is an interdisciplinary collective working between academia, architecture, engagement and design. Coming together on principles of inclusive, inquisitive and (eco)system-wide thinking, they develop place-based approaches that embed the ‘social good’ into processes of design and urbanism to secure long-term, positive change. As an emerging global majority and LGBTQ+ led team, their experience spans public and private organisations, with in-house expertise in branding, curation and exhibitions through to public realm interventions, community infrastructure and masterplanning. Fundamental to their approach is developing collaborative practice networks that leverage expertise and specialist knowledge to inform the processes of design, with regard to building capacity in local communities, and places and addressing the climate emergency. Susie and Yip are the Architectural and Engagement Leads, with Dave and Fibi providing direction on Curation and Graphic Identity that situates their designs with a socio-cultural programme.
“We see this as an opportunity to expand the reach of the gallery through working collaboratively with young people and under-represented communities to shape and co-develop the design – nurturing long-term relationships in the process. Play is multi-faceted, individual and nuanced and we look forward to progressing our design.”
TIP x CRAB
Team TIP x CRAB is made up of new creative practice Studio TIP and architects CRAB Studio. Being friends for several years, the two studios share a common belief in design full of play, colour and character. With this shared visual language and shared interest in material research and innovation, the Dulwich Picture Gallery Open Call is a perfect opportunity for the studios to come together.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for all sorts of collaborations; play and architecture, local residents, children and Soane, fantasy and heritage, and TIP X CRAB. We hope that through the playful co-design sessions with local residents, we and the other participants can learn something from their imaginations and wonder.”
Eleanor Dodman Architects, YAA Projects & 27 Beginnings
Eleanor Dodman Architects is a London-based architectural practice with a diverse range of projects ranging in scale, from small housing developments to small residential work and education spaces. YAA Projects is a London-based architecture, design and research practice exploring counter-histories, diasporic spatial intelligence and material culture, through making, speaking and writing architecture. 27 Beginnings is a creative institute focused on education, language and centring play as a form of learning.
“We look forward to developing our proposals for what play means to diverse audiences and engaging with art as a form of play, exploration and creativity.”
The final sculptural piece will be a permanent feature in Dulwich Picture Gallery’s garden, staying in place for approximately 10 years. It will also form a vital part of the Gallery’s ‘Open Art’ project, which aims to unite the gallery’s building, artwork, and gardens in a seamless, engaging visitor experience.
The judging panel responsible for selecting the final design includes key figures from the fields of art, architecture, and local government, ensuring a diverse and inclusive perspective, including Chantelle Culshaw, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Helen Hillyard, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Councillor Richard Leeming, London Borough of Southwark, Krishan Nathaniel, Harrow Council, Yinka Ilori, British-Nigerian Multidisciplinary Artist and Designer, Binki Taylor, The Brixton Project.
The winning design will be announced later this year, and the installation is set to be unveiled in 2026 with a budget of £80,000 to bring the concept to life.
Stay tuned for further updates and insights into this exciting project, as we work to transform Dulwich Picture Gallery’s garden into a dynamic, playful space that sparks creativity and imagination in all who visit.
