Street Architecture
& Urban Interventions
Home Projects Moments Products About
Last project uploaded: NOMAD’S CARPET

07:18:00:37

Astana

MUSHROOMS FOREST

Find out more about Rubix Square by clicking here.

MUSHROOMS FOREST

A whimsical playscape inspired by magic mushroom fantasies.

0
MUSHROOMS FOREST

© 100architects

26

Aug

2024

Kent

Mushroom Forests
Kent | England | United Kingdom
 
A whimsical playscape inspired by magic mushroom fantasies.
 
Mushroom Forests | Official Video | 100 Channel
 



 
Located beside Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, UK, Magic Mushroom Forests transforms a portion of the Winter Garden into a playful, colorful destination for children, youngsters, and families alike. Facing the serene lake, this public space embraces its beautiful surroundings while creating an immersive, dreamlike environment where imagination thrives.
 
 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

The design draws inspiration from magical mushroom worlds, turning fantasy into reality through large, sculptural play structures and playful landscapes that invite exploration, discovery, and social interaction. At the heart of the project stands a monumental mushroom castle — a vertical playground where visitors can climb to secret rooms and elevated platforms before sliding down spiraling slides back to the ground.
 
Surrounding this central icon, the garden is divided into distinct zones designed for different age groups, from toddlers to teenagers and families. Play equipment includes climbing nets, swings, mazes, sand pits, jumping nets, and seesaws, all carefully integrated into the landscape to stimulate creativity and physical activity.
 
 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

Lush greenery, playful flowers, and colorful paving patterns reinforce the fantasy atmosphere, creating a vibrant environment filled with soft curves and whimsical shapes. Every element, from mushroom shading structures and seating features to lotus-inspired tables, encourages play, rest, and socialization.
 
A key feature of the design is the curved lakeside handrail — doubling as a social seating element where visitors can sit, relax, and enjoy uninterrupted views of the water, fostering a strong connection between the park and the lake.
 
 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

To enhance activity and sustain the space commercially, a designated vendor area allows for a food truck to be placed at the center, turning Magic Mushroom Forests into a revenue-generating public destination that serves both leisure and business.
 
By day, the park is vibrant and energetic, buzzing with activity and laughter. By night, it transforms into a magical wonderland, with illuminated mushrooms and glowing details that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere and provide a safe, enchanting night-time experience.
 
 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

Magic Mushroom Forests is more than just a playground. It is an imaginative landscape where nature, fantasy, and family life meet — a joyful, iconic destination for the community of Kent and visitors from beyond.
 
 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 

© 100architects

 
Credits
 
PROJECT NAME:Mushroom Forests
DESIGN: 100 Architects Global
DESIGN TEAM: Marcial Jesús, Javier González, Lara Broglio, Mónica Páez, Yuntong Liu, Cosima Jiang, Keith Gong, Michelle Aldora, Jango Zhang.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM: Jenny Fan & Eva Jiang
SIZE: 2.100 m2
STATUS: Concept Design
LOCATION: Kent, England, United Kingdom

More images

Facing the serene lake, the project embraces its beautiful setting, creating an immersive environment where nature and imagination come together.

Located beside Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, UK, Magic Mushroom Forests transforms part of the Winter Garden into a vibrant, playful destination for families and children of all ages.

Magic Mushroom Forests is a whimsical playscape inspired by magic mushroom fantasies, where visitors can enter, climb, and explore towering mushroom structures.

The design draws inspiration from fantasy mushroom worlds, turning them into large sculptural play structures that encourage exploration, discovery, and imagination.

At the heart of the garden stands a monumental mushroom castle, a vertical playground inviting visitors to climb, find secret rooms, and slide down spiraling tubes.

Surrounding this central feature, the garden is divided into zones designed for different age groups — from toddlers to teenagers and entire families.

Play equipment includes climbing nets, swings, mazes, sand pits, jumping nets, and seesaws, all seamlessly integrated into the landscape.

Colorful pavements, lush greenery, and playful flower structures reinforce the fantasy atmosphere and stimulate creativity and interaction.

Every detail — from mushroom shading structures to lotus-inspired tables — is designed for play, relaxation, and social connection.

Along the lake’s edge, a curved handrail doubles as seating, inviting visitors to sit, relax, and enjoy open views of the water.

This lakeside seating element strengthens the connection between the playful garden and the natural beauty of the lake.

A designated vendor area allows for a food truck, transforming the playground into a revenue-generating public space for leisure and business.

By day, the park is alive with energy and laughter, buzzing with activity and family fun.

By night, it transforms into a magical wonderland, with glowing mushrooms and illuminated paths that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere.

Magic Mushroom Forests is more than a playground — it’s an imaginative destination where fantasy, nature, and family life meet for all to enjoy.

Landscape Architecture

Neighborhood Intervention

Neighborhood Intervention

© 100architects

What is a neighborhood intervention?
This is the medium-scale type of intervention that takes place in the public realm of a city, related to the altering of a portion of a neighborhood. A type of intervention of such magnitude and notoriety impacts not only the immediate surrounding urban environment but rather the urban dynamics of a whole neighborhood, becoming an urban landmark and a local attractor of social interactions in a given neighborhood.
 
The main objective of this typology is to trigger massive public interest in the place through a strong visual impact and injection of activities, encouraging the increase of high public influx and establishing an urban landmark that can cultivate important human dynamics and boost commercial activity. These phenomena are achieved through the creation of spaces for leisure, entertainment, play and collective joy, catalyzing important social interactions throughout the neighborhood.
 
This topology of intervention, normally is used by real state developers to bring fresh and unique ideas to the public realm of their urban developments, which contributes to stand out in the market, establishing a distinct brand identity through innovative, and user-oriented design solutions that enhance the quality of life and thus, the appeal and value in the eyes of potential buyers or tenants, increasing the marketability of the project and potentially leading to higher property values, rental rates and ultimately faster sell out. This interventions maximize the value of the entire neighborhood.

Projects

Related

A monumental urban carpet inspired by Kazakh heritage and symbolism.

Nomad’s Carpet is a monumental public space in Astana, inspired by Kazakh ornamental traditions. It weaves culture, nature, and entertainment into a vibrant urban tapestry, featuring museums, sports areas, green spaces, and attractions for both locals and tourists.

NOMAD’S CARPET

NOMAD’S CARPET

Landscape Architecture

A massive structure that creates a waterfront destination in Deira, Dubai

Infinity Space is a visionary waterfront destination in Deira, Dubai, blending contemporary design with the area’s rich historical context. Inspired by the nearby Infinity Bridge, the striking red structure creates a dynamic space divided into four subplazas: a multifunctional area, a sports field, a pixelated playground, and a dry fountain.

INFINITY SPACE

INFINITY SPACE

Landscape Architecture

A playground that serves as a catalyst for social and commercial activity

Drawing inspiration from the characteristic vibrant summer vibes and beach hues of the famous beach of La Barceloneta, we named it "La Barcelonita", envisioning it as the little sister of La Barceloneta.

LA BARCELONITA

LA BARCELONITA

Landscape Architecture

See More Related Projects >

insta100

Latest Moments
Special place rich in colors and activities

Special place rich in colors and activities

the huge dome was very soft and colorful, perfeto for a nice picture

Photo by Magic Jimmy

Taken at THE OTHER NEST

Swinging in Hangzhou

Swinging in Hangzhou

Kids alwayas love to find different ways to play

Photo by Mario Chan

Taken at THE OTHER NEST

Challenging truck for little kids

Challenging truck for little kids

I love this truck cause you can follow it with your son and go from one game to another one.

Photo by Camilla Sam

Taken at MĂ WAY

See More Related Insta100 >

Publications

Latest
The Nest in Transform

The Nest in Transform

It’s not classical landscape architecture where design focuses on elegant alignment with a space’s existing character, but “injecting identity into places that do not have one,” he says.

The Nest in Transform

Marcial Jesús in Diario Financiero

Marcial Jesús in Diario Financiero

El arquitecto chileno que revoluciona el espacio público desde China.

Marcial Jesús in Diario Financiero

The Other Nest in Topscape

The Other Nest in Topscape

The Other Nest é un sistema ludico iperstimolante e multifunzionale vocato al gioco per tutte le età realizzato da 100architects,...

The Other Nest in Topscape

100architects

100architects
The Orange Moon is a metropolitan intervention that aims to boost commerce and tourism catalyzing economic development by positioning this huge object on the riverbank of the Hang River, contributing to the city brand identity with a functional and eye catching project that will serve the entire city. Drawing inspiration from the captivating sight of the Orange Moon phenomenon, our project, Orange Moon, finds its home in the heart of Seoul, a city that thrives amidst the harmony of urban life and natural beauty. Situated along the banks of the Han River, Orange Moon serves as a beacon, echoing the mesmerizing circular form and vibrant hue of the Orange Moon in the night sky. Just as Seoul embraces its natural surroundings, our project seeks to embody this connection to nature. The Orange Moon project symbolizes a harmonious blend of nature and architecture, serving as a beacon of innovation and beauty within Seoul's urban landscape, celebrating the city's rich cultural heritage and enduring bond with the natural world. With the purpose of improving the existing public facility of the Swimming Pool in Jamsil Hangang Park, the Municipality of Seoul launched a Competition for a design solution that would bring back the former glory of this 30-years-old facility on the banks of the Hang River. Not only by renovating the Swimming Pools themselves, but also seeking a solution that would reactivate the entire Park as a public destination within the City of Seoul. Our mission transcended the renovation of the existing pools, targeting the reestablishment of the natural landscape and fulfilling an entire urban regeneration, turning Hangang Park into a major urban and ecological landmark for the city of Seoul, to be used throughout all seasons. The proposal unifies the pool complex with the surrounding cultural facilities. On the West, the Sagak Sagak Artistic Area, and on the East, the Botanical Learning Center. The plan connects those 3 facilities through a system of meandering interweaved pedestrian paths, allowing easy pedestrian accessibility between all of them, transforming the entire riverfront into a prominent public natural destination. The joint proposal draws its inspiration from Taegeuk, the traditional Korean symbol which can be found in the National Flag of South Korea, as a very honored, loyal illustrative and recognizable shape. A perfect circle split in two halves, red & blue, representing the balance in the universe. The search for this balance between nature & architecture, is the core of our design, translating the Taegeuk into an orange circular object, a pedestrian walkway shaped as a ring that encloses the main pool facility. This circular walkway is interrupted at the riverbank, hovering over the river, a belvedere allowing amazing views over the Hang River. Curving upwards towards the highway, the elevated pedestrian walkway shields the pools from the traffic noise, and accommodates necessary indoor facilities under its roof at the same time. It flattens at the intersection with the riverfront promenade, in order to ease pedestrian connectivity; and finally, it protrudes over the riverbank, creating two walkable piers overlooking both, the river and the restored nature of the riverbank. The undulating intertwined pedestrian paths create opportunities and affordances for the park’s public program. Programmatic interventions for entertainment and leisure spaces within the natural environment are envisioned, offering valuable interactions with nature. Spaces for practicing a wide range of sports, resting areas, shading structures and natural kids playscapes, resulting in a multifunctional park suitable for all kind of ages. All pools are designed in a sustainable way to naturally clean its water by using a helophyte filtering system with reeds planted around the pools. The treatment of cleaning the water is naturally done by bacteria living in the roots of the planted reeds. This project is a creative international collaboration between 100 Architects (Shanghai), Carve (Amsterdam) and Urien (Seoul), with the local coordination & support of the landscape architect Walter Ryu.
Orange Moon
YouTube Video UCyoOpK5SjZlridYZ2AqFUFQ_KXoYN6kOo7k
In the heart of Astana, Nomad’s Carpet emerges as a visionary public space and entertainment destination, inspired by the intricate carpets used by Kazakhstan’s nomadic tribes to decorate their yurts. Just like those handcrafted textiles, each knot and pattern becomes a colorful pixel with a purpose — from lush green areas and sports venues to playful spaces and cultural landmarks — woven together to form a bold, immersive urban tapestry. This grand intervention, also referred to as the Juldyz Memorial and Entertainment Hub, transforms traditional Kazakh ornamental patterns into contemporary geometric abstractions. These patterns define floor graphics, landscape elements, and architectural forms, creating a rich visual identity that feels both timeless and innovative. The layout of Nomad’s Carpet is structured around four distinct corners, each dedicated to a specific function. One corner becomes a vibrant sports hub with courts, fields, and workout zones. Another is transformed into an urban forest for relaxation. A third hosts a playful theme park for family entertainment, while the fourth offers a peaceful green park for gatherings and leisure. Each corner is complemented by a service building providing key amenities such as a training center, arcade, co-working space, and indoor gym, ensuring the site serves the community on multiple levels. At the center of the project stands the monumental memorial complex, symbolizing the soul of the country. Four grand buildings — an art museum, a history museum, a library, and a conference hall — occupy the ground floor, forming the cultural heart of the site. On the second floor, four large exhibition halls are connected by an elevated green pathway that crosses through each building. This elevated path offers visitors a unique experiential journey, leading them through Kazakhstan’s history and culture before arriving at the central water feature. The path extends into a balcony overlooking cascading water, creating an overwhelming sense of scale and contemplation — a space designed for reflection and admiration of the nation’s progress and unity. All forms and shapes throughout Nomad’s Carpet are derived from the geometric abstraction of Kazakh ornaments — zoomorphic, plant-based, cosmogonic, and geometric symbols — reinterpreted into bold, colorful designs that shape the landscape, pavements, and public furniture. At the core, the design reimagines the Shanyrak, the iconic circular opening of the yurt roof, a symbol of family, unity, and connection to the sky. Where nomads once gazed upward to navigate by the stars, visitors here look down from elevated platforms onto floating forests and pristine waters — a poetic inversion symbolizing prosperity and vision. Beyond its monumental center, Nomad’s Carpet is a vast, vibrant public space filled with greenery, colorful pavements, sports fields, playgrounds, and gathering areas. It aspires to become an entertainment hub that attracts both citizens and visitors from across Kazakhstan and around the world — a bold, unforgettable landmark. Nomad’s Carpet is more than a project; it is a monumental entertainment hub where culture, nature, and innovation intertwine to create a vibrant place of gathering, reflection, and celebration. Designed to attract tourists from around the world, it will position Astana as a major destination and a symbol of contemporary Kazakhstan on the regional and global stage.
Nomad's Carpet
YouTube Video UCyoOpK5SjZlridYZ2AqFUFQ_vUwK1jKWEqs
Located beside Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, UK, Mushroom Forests transforms a portion of the Winter Garden into a playful, colorful destination for children, youngsters, and families alike. Facing the serene lake, this public space embraces its beautiful surroundings while creating an immersive, dreamlike environment where imagination thrives. The design draws inspiration from magical mushroom worlds, turning fantasy into reality through large, sculptural play structures and playful landscapes that invite exploration, discovery, and social interaction. At the heart of the project stands a monumental mushroom castle — a vertical playground where visitors can climb to secret rooms and elevated platforms before sliding down spiraling slides back to the ground. Surrounding this central icon, the garden is divided into distinct zones designed for different age groups, from toddlers to teenagers and families. Play equipment includes climbing nets, swings, mazes, sand pits, jumping nets, and seesaws, all carefully integrated into the landscape to stimulate creativity and physical activity. Lush greenery, playful flowers, and colorful paving patterns reinforce the fantasy atmosphere, creating a vibrant environment filled with soft curves and whimsical shapes. Every element, from mushroom shading structures and seating features to lotus-inspired tables, encourages play, rest, and socialization. A key feature of the design is the curved lakeside handrail — doubling as a social seating element where visitors can sit, relax, and enjoy uninterrupted views of the water, fostering a strong connection between the park and the lake. To enhance activity and sustain the space commercially, a designated vendor area allows for a food truck to be placed at the center, turning Mushroom Forests into a revenue-generating public destination that serves both leisure and business. By day, the park is vibrant and energetic, buzzing with activity and laughter. By night, it transforms into a magical wonderland, with illuminated mushrooms and glowing details that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere and provide a safe, enchanting night-time experience. Mushroom Forests is more than just a playground. It is an imaginative landscape where nature, fantasy, and family life meet — a joyful, iconic destination for the community of Kent and visitors from beyond.
Mushroom Forest
YouTube Video UCyoOpK5SjZlridYZ2AqFUFQ_IkLA1TZrKLY
Load More... Subscribe

100architects
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Moments & Experiences

Insta 100