PLAAY°

PLAAY° is a multifunctional piece of furniture that grows with your child, transforming from a co-sleeper or cot to a play corner and children’s desk. It is designed for open-ended play, long-term use, circular service and emotional durability.

The jury on PLAAY°:

The sustainable nature of this design lies not only in the furniture that grows with the child, but also in the idea of teaching children not to simply throw things away. The design is versatile, encouraging families to keep their furniture and grow with it over time. Parents are given a blank canvas they can personalise, one that fits seamlessly into a wide variety of bedrooms. Its accessible design also appeals to a broad audience.

What does this award mean to you?

Studioloco is still a young design studio, and this is an important recognition at a time when I am fully focused on finding my own path. It gives me confidence in the choices I make and in the way I approach design. Above all, recognition from a jury like this feels like a huge incentive to keep experimenting, creating and developing my vision.

How did the idea for this project come about?

TOPPLEchair was inspired by the danger that children with ADHD regularly face in the classroom. By rocking back on the two rear legs of their chairs, they seek movement but run the risk of falling backwards. I noticed that little was being done to address this and wondered: why don’t we design a chair that allows this freedom of movement while eliminating the danger? That question marked the start of my journey towards TOPPLEchair.

What makes your project so special?

TOPPLEchair doesn’t eliminate rocking, but makes it safe. The chair can tilt and move in a controlled manner while remaining stable. In this way, a movement that is seen as undesirable or dangerous in a conventional chair becomes the very starting point of the design. TOPPLEchair transforms that movement into an active, playful way of sitting, in which stability and freedom of movement are not mutually exclusive.