Header: Zhou Sheng, CHENIN Visual
In the city of Ji’nan, a new community park called Boulder Park invites visitors to explore a landscape where ancient-looking rocks meet futuristic construction. Covering 13,000m2 in the Yunwan Garden, this park uses large boulders as its main design feature, turning what is often just a decorative element into an active part of the experience. But the most interesting part is a massive rock cave adventure space built using advanced 3D concrete-printing technology. Designed by XISUI Design, the park brings together play areas, water features, and natural settings to create a spot for different generations to interact.
A park with many parts
Boulder Park is not just a big playground. It is a large community area divided into several sections, each with its own character and purpose. These include the All-Age Boulder Playground, the Water Garden, the Forest Garden, the Stone Garden, and the Flower Garden. The team at XISUI Design took charge of the children’s activity zones, specifically designing the All-Age Boulder Playground, Water Garden, and Forest Garden to encourage interaction and play.
Redefining playgrounds with boulders and caves
The All-Age Boulder Playground and Forest Garden are filled with a variety of play equipment. You can find swings, slides, seesaws, trampolines, rocking horses, and merry-go-rounds. There are also climbing tunnels, speaking tubes, and climbing ropes for more adventurous kids. Instead of just placing this equipment on a flat surface, the designers worked it into a landscape made of large natural stones and specially constructed concrete caves. Boulders placed in a sandpit become climbing structures and places to rest. This setup gives children a fun way to play while also helping them develop physical strength and skills like balance and an awareness of nature.
Making a splash in the Water garden
Next to the main playground is the Water Garden, an outdoor area where water is the main attraction. Here, shallow streams weave through the landscape. XISUI Design created a space for people of all ages to play with water. Children can run through fountains, feel the movement of the water in winding creeks, and experiment with a water turntable. The area also includes water pumps and pressure devices, giving kids a chance to explore how they work. It’s a hands-on environment where children can connect with the natural element of water.
The tech behind the rocks: 3D concrete printing
The standout feature of Boulder Park is its use of 3D concrete printing. This construction method was used to create the park’s large, cave-like structures. It works by using a computer-guided robotic arm to push out concrete in layers, building up a structure from a digital model. This process allows for the creation of big, curved shapes that are very difficult to make using traditional wooden or metal forms. The technology gives designers incredible freedom to make complex and organic forms. The final product has a unique layered look that resembles the texture of natural rock formations, making the artificial caves look like they belong next to the real boulders.
Designing for adventure and safety
In any playground, safety and fun are the top priorities. The team made sure all the 3D-printed structures have smooth edges and rounded corners to prevent injuries. The curving surfaces of the printed caves are not just for looks; they also serve practical purposes, forming steps, handrails, slides, and places to sit. The cave-like spaces, complete with slides and tunnels, connect the garden environment with children’s activities.
“In the application of 3D-printed concrete technology, compared to architecture, landscape projects may have even more diverse usage scenarios,” explains Hu Yihao, the lead designer. He points out that while the material technology is still developing, the concrete used in Boulder Park is very strong. “The 3D printing materials used in Boulder Park have an average strength of 50MPA, surpassing the traditional C40 concrete strength standard.”
Mr. Yihao adds that this strength is more than enough for most landscape structures.
“In landscape projects, outdoor durability, the ability to achieve organic shapes, ease of construction and installation, and cost savings in labor are the primary considerations. 3D printing technology, with its significant advantages in these aspects, has become an ideal choice for this purpose.”
Boulder Park shows how new technologies can be used to make public spaces better. By putting 3D-printed concrete structures next to natural rocks and plants, XISUI Design has created a unique place for play, exploration, and connecting with the outdoors. It’s a great example of how a new construction method can provide real value to a community.
Project info
Official Project Name: Boulder Park: A 3D Concrete-Printed Playground
Location: Vanke Snow Mountain City, Jiangshan North Street, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China
Client: Vanke Jinan
Designers: Hu Yihao, Peng Yang, Li Chengxi, Zheng Mengzi, Chen Wenqi, Ruan Chengxin, Liu Yihe, Chu Tiancheng
Project Manager: Peng Yang
Design Team: XISUI Design
3D Printing Construction: Guanli Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
Structural Consultant: LuAnLu Partner Structure Consulting
Project Completion Date: June 26, 2024
Photographer: Hu Yihao, XISUI Design: Zhou Sheng, CHENIN Visual
Source: v2com-newswire
