Located in Taiser Town, Karachi, Play–Pause–Ponder is an action-based research and design project initiated by WM Re-Lab in 2023. Developed through a participatory process with local residents, it responds to the absence of safe, playful spaces for children in marginalized communities. Originally part of an academic residency titled Critical Futures, the project redirected its exhibition budget to build a real, functional installation on the ground, turning an artistic inquiry into an act of civic engagement.

The team identified play as a critical need in informal settlements, where open spaces are scarce and public parks are often inaccessible or misused. Working closely with local representatives, craftsmen and students, they developed a modular, plug-and-play structure that could be built quickly and replicated elsewhere. A social worker specializing in women’s studies ensured that gendered spatial concerns – privacy, safety, visibility – were addressed, while children participated through drawing and theatre workshops that informed the design’s form and colour.

The bamboo structure, designed around the principles of challenge, containment and collaboration, was locally sourced and hand-finished to highlight its natural warmth. Fishermen’s knotting techniques were reinterpreted through white ropes, binding the frame together with tactile precision. Colour became a central design element, inspired by a child’s drawing that reimagined the installation as tidda (grasshopper). Bright red, blue and yellow fabrics create shaded canopies that evoke movement and joy, while offering comfort against Karachi’s harsh sun.

Environmental responsibility shaped every technical decision. The team devised a portable foundation system using recycled bins filled with concrete and fitted with metal bolts – avoiding deep excavation and minimizing damage to the terrain. This design allows the entire structure to be assembled, dismantled and relocated with ease, a vital feature where land ownership is uncertain. The structure’s adaptability ensures that it can be expanded or replicated, turning the project into an evolving tool for community use.

More than a physical intervention, Play–Pause–Ponder serves as a pedagogical model for participatory practice. It merges play, education and empowerment through design-build workshops that engage students, artisans and local residents. The project redefines ‘play’ not as a luxury or confined park activity, but as a fundamental act of collective expression. It celebrates local material intelligence, craft and care – creating spaces that are both resilient and transformative.