SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART
Bespoke play spaces crafted with artistic inspiration, precision, and sustainable reuse
LOCATION
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
CLIENT
national galleries of scotland
DATE
2015 - 2021
MATERIALS
Plywood / Steel / Hi-mac / Graphic Panels / Mixed Materials
SERVICES
Project management & Consultancy / Construction Design / Machining / Fabrication / Finishing / Installation
Over a seven-year period, Old School Fabrications was commissioned by the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to design, build, and install bespoke outdoor play spaces that were fun, engaging, and thematically linked to the gallery's blockbuster summer exhibitions.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists and artworks featured in the exhibitions—including M.C. Escher, Salvador Dalí, and Ray Harryhausen, to name a few—we created play spaces that varied in colour, form, and scale. These installations incorporated mazes, crawl tunnels, slides, climbing frames, magnetic collage walls, and other adventurous structures, offering a truly unique experience for visitors of all ages.
Designed for both functionality and sustainability, the structures were easily dismantled after each exhibition and donated to local schools and community groups for reuse, extending their impact and bringing creativity to new spaces.
