Maison de l'Environnement
Play
Client
Maison de l'Environnement
Role
Designer
Duration
7 months (2024-2025)
Challenge
How might we create an opportunity for urban children and their families to experience and connect with nature and biodiversity in ways that not only inspire a lifelong love for the environment but also strengthen family bonds?
Did you know?
INDIA
Over half of children in India play outside for one hour or less each day.
Urban children spend around
FRANCE
According to the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS), the average person spends approximately 3.7 hours outdoors daily, accounting for about 15% of a full day.
USA
A study by the Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that children aged 10 to 16 engage in only about 12.6 minutes of vigorous outdoor activity daily
AUSTRALIA
Children aged 8 to 12 in Australia spend an average around 90 minutes per day outdoors.
UK
Children aged 8 to 15 spent an average of 68 minutes per day participating in outdoor activities, sports, or active travel.
SINGAPORE
Children aged 8 to 12 in Singapore spend about 60 minutes outdoors daily.
The Magical Secret Garden is an immersive, multi-touchpoint experience designed as a journey
rather than a single event.
Imagine a garden
To find this magical secret garden all you need to do is Play!
The experience begins with a curiobag containing: A storybook A journal Lolo(a toy/plant which needs your help to find his way back home) some seeds The story introduces the child to Lolo’s world and ends with a sealed envelope containing a map. The map transforms passive reading into active exploration by guiding families to real outdoor locations. At each marked location, children complete nature based tasks that encourage observation, creativity, and reflection. They document their findings in the journal, reinforcing learning through active participation. The journey culminates in reaching Lolo’s House the Magical Secret Garden, a physical immersive environment where children engage in hands-on activities connected to biodiversity and environmental awareness. Importantly, the system is cyclical. After visiting the garden, new tasks invite families to return, transforming the experience into an ongoing relationship rather than a one time visit.
By collaborating with local environmental groups, children not only explore and learn new things, but also spend time outdoors while appreciating the value of hard work in achieving meaningful goals.
Upon completing all the tasks, they unlock the location of the real Magical Secret Garden.
Lets see how the magic turns into reality in the garden
See you soon!