In the northern Japanese city of Yamagata, where winters are long and snowfalls are heavy, indoor play places are a godsend. Keen to develop an inclusive space that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages and abilities, the city acquired a former rice field and tasked onishimaki + hyakudayuki architects / o+h with the play center’s design. The Tokyo architects responded with a continuously curved building whose dynamic form draws both kids and their parents. Named Shelter Inclusive Place Copal (or just Copal, for short), the project was completed in March 2022.

A ramp connecting the play area with the gym doubles as a spot for kids to scramble and let off steam. Photo courtesy o+h