Alegro Sintra Shopping Center, recently acquired by Ceetrus Portugal group, underwent a special intervention with an image change, establishing itself as a shopping centre for experiences and comfort.

As part of this overhaul, Play Planet was invited to submit a proposal for a bold playground, designed for the whole family.

The intervention area, located on Floor1 next to the east side escalators, is at a confluence of main corridors. Thus, one of our goals was to create a truly impactful installation that would act as a visual reference, viewed from different angles in the short or medium distance.

The architecture of the center, with its own identity, resulting from the overlapping of rectangular shapes with the original geometry, was a source of inspiration for us. Our proposal sought to explore the architectural and industrial environment of this center, favouring materials such as steel and nets. And we did more: We extended and overflowed our initial intervention zone, with 16.7m x 7.2m to a previously inactive area, a 20.5m long void that connects the two floors 6m down, surrounded by safety fences. So we worked this empty space, removed its fences and opened it to adventure. Our project thus comprised two distinct areas: One Play Zone and one Stay and adventure Zone. Being spatially complementary and visually continuous, the Play and Stay areas are part of the same place, unique and coherent, for everyone, for those who want to explore, for those who want to play, and for those who want to relax, being for children and adults, promoting family involvement and interaction.

On the Play side, the main metal frame offers all sorts of challenging activities like climbing, balancing, crawling and sliding. In Stay’s part, a unique and highly challenging area was created with large panoramic nets alternating with platforms, which are also structural support frames. In this area we installed other elements of surprise, two “nests” and a ball suspended from the ceiling, in which the bravest can, sitting or lying, oscillate and relax over the panoramic nets.