Sputnik Play Sculpture c. 1959

Photograph by Petr Karsulin Dolce Vita Magazine, Prague

Source:  MOMA Century of the Child Exhibition

I can only imagine how my boys would react if they were to discover this!  It actually looks like something my 6 year old would draw and ask me to build...and I would reply, "I'm not sure we can make a sphere in our backyard."  Guess there are no excuses now!

The era of the space race was a time of mounting ambitions and anxieties for adults, but for children all over the world it was a time of great imaginative play, with new designed environments in which they could act out their own aerospace adventures.  Junior astronauts and cosmonauts commanded scaled-down rockets and satellites, the most striking of which were abstract sculptural departures from the conventional forms.  Nemecek's interpretation of Sputnik's aluminum sphere as an elegant concrete play sculpture, encased in multicolored ceramic an featuring a climbing tube and slide, was originally installed in Stromovka Park, in Prague. - MOMA

Vintage Kids Playhouse

Laurie Gottlieb / Los Angeles Times

 

Check out this cool modern playhouse built by Architect Frank Dimster for his two boys.  I love the striped paints on that kid, not to mention they coordinate with the playhouse! 

Gas Station or Playhouse?

Image via: Paper Scissors and Super Heroes

What a find!  This whimsical cottage is located in McCrory Gardens, a botanical garden operated and maintained by the Plant Science Department of South Dakota State University.  Believe it or not, it was originally a gas station.  (Gas station design has changed a bit over the years).  Love the storybook style roof.  It looks like it even has a tiny chimney.  The windows and flower boxes are nicely detailed too.  I may just have to recreate plans for this one.  Wouldn't it be a perfect playhouse...or garden office?  

McCrory Gardens:
 A quaint garden space, the Cottage Garden is a popular photo stop. The cottage garden is a distinct style of garden that uses an informal design, traditional materials, dense plantings, and a mixture of ornamental and edible plants. English in origin, the cottage garden depends on grace and charm rather than grandeur and formal structure. The building for the space was once a gas station located in Lake Preston, SD.

I'm still digging around for more information on this cottage, but just couldn't wait to share.  If you know more about it or have interior pictures please let me know.  I'll update as I find info.
 

Garden Shed Playhouse

 Image via:  Home Away

A couple beautiful sunny days here was all it took to get me thinking about playing outside again!  We're back to cold and rainy, but it's still fun to think about what outdoor projects we can do this summer.  Our garage, or rather our shed that's on the verge of falling down, is in need of a complete overhaul.  When I stumbled upon this adorable playhouse/shed, it gave me hope.  It is possible to give new life to an older structure.  In this case the "old" actually adds character.  I've always liked white trim with the weathered wood siding, and the over sized white watering  can ties it all together adding a bit of whimsey.  The flowers are a fun touch too!

Depending on where you live, it may still be a bit cold to start building a playhouse, but it's not too soon to start planning!