Chilton Square is a new public space in the King’s Cross neighbourhood with an exciting play area sitting at its heart.

Overlooked by residential apartments and office units, it was important to create a space with wider public appeal. Therefore, we adopted a sculptural design approach for the playground. Neighbours with The Francis Crick Institute, named after the co-discoverer of the double helix, our proposal is a playful take on the DNA structure. Two strands of steel twist their way between trees with nets, ropes, rungs, swings and more, suspended between primary steels.

The play structure nestles amongst trees and planting above cork surfacing, pools of hardwood chips and immersive willow dens to create a natural woodland feel, which builds on the existing micro-climate. Twenty-seven new trees and a variety of planting provide seasonal and sensory interest throughout the year. The square creates an ecological connection between the tree-lined and lusciously planted Canal Reach to the north-west and the sculpted grass mounds with trees in Lewis Cubitt Park to the south-east.

Chilton Square offers a variety of play focused on 5-12 year olds as well as play and fitness for all ages and lounging and socialising opportunities (one of our favourites will be the sofa swing!). In the early evenings, colour separation lighting will add a different and exciting type of interactive play.

The actual play area ambitiously targets true Net Zero Carbon. It drastically reduces embodied carbon by using reclaimed steel, foundations without concrete and safety surfacing made from waste products of cork production, as well as wood chips. This is supplemented by 27 new trees and extensive planting on a site with severe underground service and access constraints.