As part of the Manchester International Festival, the design team was challenged with creating an interactive sound playground for children aged six months to seven years. The brief called for a playful and immersive environment that could house a series of miniature performance spaces while capturing the imagination of its young audience.

Intended as a temporary installation at Salford Quays, the project explored how an indoor-outdoor destination could be crafted in a way that responded to the brief, yet exceeded expectations. The result was an engaging, immersive environment that became one of the Festival’s standout successes.

The architectural solution centred on the use of 78 steel shipping containers, stacked up to three high in an irregular arrangement, intentionally breaking away from the conventional linear logic of container design. This created an elliptical, embracing form that reflected the natural geometry and rhythm of sound waves.

Taking cues from its dockside context, sail-like canopies made from wire rigging and tarpaulins were suspended above the central space, while bold stencilled signage panels at the container ends referenced the industrial heritage of global trade. This inventive composition of raw industrial materials and playful structural interventions resulted in an expressive architectural language that was both robust and imaginative.

Within this framework, a variety of spaces were created to encourage exploration and creative engagement. These included miniature performance areas, customised recording and animation studios, and interactive installations that allowed children to discover a fantastical world of sound and music. The design celebrated open-ended play, fostering a rich environment for sensory learning and unstructured discovery.