Capital & Regional to open interactive play space at The Exchange Ilford
Capital & Regional, the UK community-focused shopping centre REIT is teaming up with US play space experts Playtime to create a new 1,200-sq ft children’s area at the Exchange in Ilford, east London.
Playtime’s European expansion strategy is to focus on centres that see families and children as central to their offer and to work with these centres to develop custom projects that reflect the design of the centre.
The ‘’Ilford Wild Cubs Freeplay’ will be the first modern, custom-designed play area to be designed for the UK by the Denver-based market leader. Each of Playtime’s creations are hand sculpted, coated and hand painted and provide unique play experiences for indoor, outdoor and water locations.
The play area at Ilford will have a Savanna wildlife theme, featuring animals’ sculptures such as an interlinked giraffe and baby, lioness, elephants and meerkat mounds. Along with log ramp, the creatively-shaped pieces will provide a variety of ways for children to climb, balance and tunnel through.
C&R and Playtime are currently developing plans for further bespoke play areas in tailored family zones across the portfolio and special projects manager Brooke Rowlings said: “A key part of our ‘community’ shopping centre strategy is to provide best-in-class family facilities, so that everyone can come and enjoy time together.”
