1. How did your journey into architecture and design shape your focus on play spaces?

Olga Rokal: My journey into design and architecture, specifically in creating play spaces, began over 15 years ago. It started with working closely with children to create contemporary art objects, where they were involved in every stage of the process—from conception to execution—and thus became true authors of these works. This collaborative process shaped my understanding of creativity and remains a deeply important, valuable foundation of my practice.

Over time, I became involved in large-scale, transformative urban projects within architectural firms, focusing on the play infrastructures that redefined city landscapes. One notable example was creating a playground in Bauman Garden in Moscow. Today, as part of our UTRO Studio, I continue this work and have become one of the leading specialists in play spaces and child engagement in the country. My expertise spans both indoor interiors and outdoor public spaces, and our studio often delivers unique, unconventional projects. For instance, when designing for residential complexes, we collaborate with artists to create play areas that aren’t just functional but also offer children environments where they genuinely want to play, all grounded in behavioral research on play.

This rich experience has shaped my principles. For me, the core focus is always the play itself: how it’s structured and how it can truly engage children, bringing them joy and a sense of immersion. Equally important is creating spaces that foster meaningful interactions between children and their parents. Cultural institutions in our country often overlook children in their programming, especially larger institutions focused on art. While there may be small designated play areas, the lack of genuine dialogue and engagement with children is a missed opportunity. For a child to interact with a piece of contemporary art—climbing on it, exploring it at the age of five or six—is a uniquely valuable experience that bridges art and play. Finally, I strive to create objects that hold artistic and cultural value, ensuring that play spaces are not only functional but also meaningful and inspiring from an artistic perspective.

2. What inspired your vision for Atelier Creative Space?

Olga Rokal: The initial brief for the project was to design a space for a new cultural institution divided into two zones: one resembling a cozy grandfather’s garage filled with intriguing artifacts—essentially a workshop area—and another dedicated to free children’s play. Given that the V–A–C Foundation focuses on contemporary art, it was evident we needed to collaborate with an artist.

We aimed to create a play area where children could spend time freely and a nearby workshop zone where both children and adults—whether with their kids or on their own—could enjoy meaningful and creative experiences. A key aspect of our approach was to make all the materials and tools in the workshop area easily accessible, which led us to include open shelves where children can independently take and explore anything that catches their interest. This encouraged curiosity and self-directed play.

We were fortunate to have significant creative freedom and a supportive curator, which inspired us to collaborate with an artist to turn the play area into an artistic masterpiece—a whimsical, immersive world unlike anything else.