The Ribbon Playground

The Ribbon Playground is a landmark in the transformation of Sydney’s Darling Harbour—a bold, joyful intervention that reclaims the city for its youngest citizens. As the culmination of over 12 years of design and collaboration by ASPECT Studios, this 2000m² play space completes a chain of high-quality public spaces connecting Central Station to the waterfront.

Championing the idea that children belong at the heart of urban life, the playground builds on the legacy of the original Darling Quarter playground, offering a fresh, high-impact experience. In collaboration with Placemaking NSW, ASPECT Studios delivered a greener, more discovery-oriented environment that embeds physical challenges, layered storytelling, and interpretive elements within a bespoke, artful structure.

The playground is divided into two zones: ‘The Bay’—a quieter, immersive space for younger children framed by planting, balance decks, and a heritage carousel—and ‘The Wave’, a dramatic, climbable structure rising over 7m, offering rigging, decks, and a spiral slide. Together, they form a dynamic topography that invites curiosity, risk, and imagination.

Positioned beneath the Western Distributor, the site’s complexity demanded innovation. A triangulated steel structure, raft slabs, and no-fines concrete enabled seamless integration with existing services and shade structures. ASPECT’s integrated graphics—featuring local fish in language, wind scales, and cloud patterns—create a ‘seek and find’ experience that sparks wonder.

More than a playground, The Ribbon is a civic gesture—an act of urban repair that reclaims underutilised infrastructure and repositions play as a vital part of the city’s public realm. Its success is measured not only in design excellence, but in the laughter and life it brings to the city.