A Better City｜A Playground Built from Clouds — Shared by Everyone from Age 0 to 99
▲ The SKY Playground atop Baguashan resembles a floating cloudland.
Along the winding, tree-lined slopes of Guashan Road, a soft blue-green landscape unfolds before your eyes. Scattered among the greenery are the Cloud Climber, Floating Rope Net, and Cloud Slide — a playground that seems to drift among the clouds.
Inspired by the concept of the sky, the Baguashan SKY Playground uses fluid curves and sweeping views to create a light and carefree play space. It is not only a paradise for children but also a public realm that integrates aesthetics, safety, and inclusivity—where adults, seniors, and people with limited mobility can all share laughter under the same sky.
From an abandoned corner to a laughter-filled landmark
The turquoise pavement glimmers under sunlight, and the curved play structures ripple like moving clouds. Seen from afar, the site resembles a mountaintop artwork — a joyful playground that has become a new landmark for Changhua.
Yet before the laughter and crowds arrived, this was once an overgrown, forgotten place. Lin Chi-Sheng, head of the Longshan Community Development Association, recalls that the site was formerly a military dependents’ village. “After relocation, it became a no-man’s land—full of weeds, garbage, and even safety issues.”
Through the Design Movement for Public, launched by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) in partnership with the Changhua County Government, the area was revitalized. Guided by the principles of inclusivity, safety, and beauty, the idle land was reborn as an imaginative, inclusive playground—inviting residents back and breathing new life into the community.
▲ Caption: Lin Chi-Sheng of the Longshan Community Development Association led residents to transform the former military village site into a community park.
Intergenerational design — where children’s creativity shapes the playground
Located at the highest point of Bagua Mountain, the site naturally inspired the design team. Architect Jen-Hwang Ho, principal of JH Studio, envisioned the Sky Playground as a place where visitors could feel the freedom and lightness of soaring through clouds.
“Inclusivity from age 0 to 99 is what we care about most,” He emphasized. The park is designed for all ages, with play structures and landscape elements at multiple scales. The fluid pavement organically separates active and quiet zones, while grassy areas serve as rest zones for seniors. Anticipating a future daycare center nearby, the team also designed a Intergenerational Plaza with fitness equipment, allowing older adults to become part of the landscape.
To bring local voices into the design, the team held four “Cloud Dreamland” co-design workshops with residents and families. Children’s drawings were transformed into signage designs — “something even professional designers couldn’t have imagined,” He laughed.
Accessibility was redefined through shared play rather than separation. For example, the Cloud Sandbox includes 65-centimeter-high sand tables, allowing wheelchair users to play side by side with others — a true embodiment of inclusivity.
▲ Captions: Architect Jen-Hwang Ho of JH Studio drew inspiration from clouds for the SKY Playground concept.
▲ The design team held workshops to gather residents’ ideas and expectations.
▲ Children’s hand-drawn sketches were transformed into playful signage.
▲ Children’s hand-drawn sketches were transformed into playful signage.
▲ The Silver–Youth Plaza provides a recreational area for seniors from the future daycare center.
Beyond standard playsets — turning the playground into public art
The Sky Playground breaks free from the conventional “prefabricated playset” model. Its centerpiece, the Cloud Slide, features a sculptural, non-linear surface that captures the essence of movement. Using NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) modeling, the design team shaped fluid, seamless curves that meet safety standards and passed SGS certification.
Due to the structure’s complexity, the molds were produced by a team experienced in yacht fabrication — a pioneering approach to playground craftsmanship.
The park features 73 native tree and shrub species, creating a lush green environment by day. At night, 3000K warm-tone lighting casts gentle layers of illumination, turning the playground into a glowing piece of public art.
“It’s a world of difference now,” said Lin Chi-Sheng. “What used to be a neglected place has become somewhere parents love to bring their children.” The influx of visitors has brought safety and revitalized surrounding neighborhoods, giving the area a new pulse of life.
▲ The Cloud Slide was modeled using NURBS technology to achieve its fluid sculptural form.
▲ The Cloud Climber, Floating Rope Net, and Cloud Slide all adopt flowing lines that transcend the typical playset design.
A model for cross-sector collaboration in public works
The success of this cross-disciplinary collaboration is most evident in the integration of the Sky Observation Deck. Originally an independent public-works project by Liming Engineering Consultants, it was later redesigned to harmonize with the playground’s overall aesthetic and circulation.
Wang Ying-Chi, Director of the Changhua County Department of City and Tourism Development, noted that this process differed from traditional government-led construction “This project showed us that public works can be functional and beautiful at the same time,” she said.
After numerous coordination meetings, Liming Engineering agreed to completely redesign the observation deck, aligning colors and movement flows with the new playground. Although this required additional time and resources, the outcome was a seamless, integrated park space that received widespread public praise after opening. “We hope this collaboration becomes a model for future public projects,” Wang added.
“We hope this collaboration becomes a model for future public projects,” Wang added. Lin Chi-Sheng echoed the sentiment: “Design turned an abandoned site into a new city landmark.” He hopes the Sky Playground will become a key node connecting downtown Changhua with the mountain area, enriching the city’s landscape for years to come.
▲ Wang Ying-Chi, Director of the Changhua County Department of City and Tourism Development, emphasized that the Sky Playground set a new precedent for cross-sector collaboration in public works.
▲ With its 3000K warm lighting, the playground glows like an artwork at night, becoming a new local attraction for nighttime strolls and stargazing.
About The Design Movement for Public
Since 2023, the Industrial Development Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has promoted the project executed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute. The program focuses on small-scale public works projects under NT$50 million, with design planning subsidies up to NT$4.5 million per case.
By integrating cross-disciplinary teams from early-stage research, design thinking, and planning, the program helps public agencies deliver solutions that truly meet people’s needs. Through open calls, government agencies, design teams, and experts co-create together, ensuring aesthetics, function, and user experience are considered in every project.
The project is not merely about renovation—it uses design as a tool to improve public services, enhance quality of life, and reshape the image of cities, advancing Taiwan toward a people-centered, collaborative approach to public space.
◖◖ Feature Highlights
Playing Among the Clouds: A New All-Age Landmark on Mount Baguashan
A Better City｜From Medical Care to Daily Life: How Design Transforms a Small Town
A Better City｜From Gloomy to Bright: When Public Toilets Become Smart—and Beautiful
A Better City｜A Playground Built from Clouds — Shared by Everyone from Age 0 to 99
Design Movement For Public