The new play structures designed by Eva Rothschild are made up of vibrantly coloured geometric cubes, influenced by the colourful objects of the postmodern 1980s design collective, the Memphis Group.

The colours are non-naturalistic and draw from Eva Rothschild’s own palette and the vibrant colours of the Memphis Group, a distinct circle of designers from Milan, Italy, who were active from 1981 to 1988. The group designed colourful postmodern furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, ceramics, glass and metal objects. Rothschild has a particular interest in the wider practice of the group’s founder, Ettore Sottass (1917–2007), who explored the social, cultural and technical implications of architecture and design on the way people live and interact.  She says of the new playground, ‘Sculpture as a playground should be activated through the body, through movement , irreverence,  imagination and joy.”

The playground was unveiled in July 2022 as part of the Becontree Centenary,  a year-long programme of artist-led projects to mark the centenary of the Becontree estate in Dagenham.

Co-commissioned by Create London and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD). This commission is funded by LBBD’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy.