Martin Luther King Adventure Playground (MLK) is a new facility at one of Islington’s most popular children’s venues. Although MLK has been at its current location since 1968, its earlier building had become unsafe and was demolished in 2018, leaving local children and families with no shared play facilities. 

The simple replacement building is organised around a central play space: a flexible layout that supports a wide range of activities, while prioritising safeguarding by ensuring views across the indoor and outdoor areas at all times. 

A wraparound terrace provides a sheltered area for play, outdoor cooking and picnics, and connects to the toilets and kitchen, which can be securely accessed even when the main building is closed. Materials including corrugated sheet metal and cement board provide a robust, characterful and low maintenance envelope, and the building’s bright red colour enhances its welcoming presence in the heart of the neighbourhood.