Tokyo based studio Tezuka Architects designed a playground that is literally a Ring Around a Tree. This one-of-a-kind and enjoyable play area is located in Tachikawa, in Tokyo and was completed in 2011.

Project description:

Designed around Japanese Elm (zelkova) is not just a short stop on the children's lives - the tree which is carried with spiral around building has planted more than 50 years.Nearly eradicated from typhoon and completely dry, despite widespread skepticism, elm fully recovered.Older residents of the neighborhood say that even before kindergarten built it was the only tree in the area used by children for climbing and playing.

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Tezuka Architects website.

[via thirdteacher]