Playscape employs rammed earth—an ancient and sustainable construction technique—to explore how clay-rich waste materials can be reimagined as a joyful, playful, and creative public space.

Our studio was commissioned to design this site-specific installation for the British Ceramics Biennial, responding to the lack of play facilities in Stoke-on-Trent’s town centre. The project invites communities to connect through clay, storytelling, and design, while celebrating the rich creative heritage of the historic Spode Works site.

Compressed layers of earth incorporate fragments of brick, pottery, and rubble, echoing Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic legacy. The structure is further enriched with glazed ceramic details made from recycled HS2 excavation clay, referencing the city’s tilework and bone china traditions. Over the course of the six-week Biennial, Playscape engaged more than 40,000 visitors.