Ludis Folly is a child-led pilot study in public art, where children “build” their own sculptural play-environments.

Through a child-led approach, the Ludis Folly pilot project seeks to address a larger research concern: What permanent infrastructure can we integrate into the built environment to make our cities more child-friendly? Why is this so important? And what role can Public Art play in this approach to intergenerational cities?

In the interest of co-creating urban design responses with our children and ensuring we provide them with the playable environments they actually want, Ludis Folly is designed to test creative assumptions about the sorts of public art and/or sculpture children might be drawn to. It enables a detailed analysis of their play-behaviors, including: self-imposed boundaries of risk, creativity, challenge and comfort.

In addition to giving them the opportunity to explore their artistic expression and experimentation through sculptural form, this project also creates opportunities for play-based learning of STEM concepts, such as:
• Engineering / Physics
• Design Processes
• Proportionality
• Shape Identification
• Observation
• Investigation
• Modelling
• Geometry
• Measuring / Recording
• Patterns / Grouping
• Symmetry/Mirroring
• Simple Machines & Mechanisms
• If / Then Thinking
• Comparing / Contrasting

And other essential skills, such as:
• Creativity
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Release, Relaxation
• Collaboration
• Fine & Gross Motor Development
• Self-Expression
• Accomplishment
• Social Development
• Focus, Determination
• Curiosity & Discovery
• Resiliency
• Inclusivity