Founded in 2004, Sawhorse Playscape Design Studio is in the business of creative play solutions. Sawhorse brings expertise in design, child development, and sustainability to build play structures, play houses and adventure activity tables for kids of all ages. There is growing concern that children are over structured, have too much screen time and not enough free time. Sawhorse aims to swing children’s play back into balance to support strong bodies, healthy imaginations and a physical connection to place.
Design Principles: Sawhorse carves and molds playscapes at various scales for residential and commercial markets using the following broad design principles:
1. Designs are imagined from nature
2. Linkages are drawn to existing landscape and built environment
3. Open spaces and free-form quality are intentional to allow imagination to fill any scene
4. Art can be interactive and playful
5. Playgrounds are designed with attention to safety requirements
6. Natural materials, textures, colors and shapes deliver a healthy and rich sensory experience. Artificial materials are used as necessary to meet Sawhorse product quality standards for safety, durability, maintenance and ease of cleaning
7. Attention is directed to ecological footprint to minimize negative impacts associated with materials sourcing, fabrication and manufacturing processes, distribution; onsite water, waste and energy management
8. Play elements offer multiple functions, expressions and styles
9. Intergenerational play makes sense - grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy the same safe, beautiful and engaging playscapes
10. Solar exposure, heating, cooling, shade, wind, rain affect material selection and design process
11. Physically demanding play experiences promote strength, balance and agility
12. Modular and adabtable designs allow a structure to grow with a child, be added to, changed, and rotated
13. Storage is delivered creatively through smart use of space
14. Developmentally appropriate features serve diverse abilities, ages and needs
15. Play is educational and education can be playful. Emotional, social, cognitive and physical development is linked to play. Accordingly, Sawhorse seeks to design play structures that promote timeless values such as curiosity; accomplishment; cooperation; discovery; awareness and appreciation of culture, community and natural history; freedom from worried parents; age-appropriate sense of independence; connection to water, trees, critters and sky; sensory exploration through texture and much more.
18. Attention to process throughout design and consultation promotes creativity, diversity and innovation.
18. Longevity/Design for disassembly helps responsibly manage playstructures that are no longer needed at their original park, museum, or school
