Pelican Nursery

A playful, nature-inspired redesign of an urban nursery courtyard, combining tactile natural materials, vibrant colours, and flexible play zones.

  • Type Education
  • Location Kennington Lane, London
  • Status Construction
  • Size 50sqm
  • Year 2023
Pelican Nursery
We reinvented a dilapidated nursery courtyard into a vibrant landscape of play – weaving natural textures, bold graphics and imaginative zones within a tight urban site.
Pelican Nursery
The existing courtyard was underused and visually disconnected. A dilapidated canopy, exposed services, and hard surfaces limited safe outdoor play. Our challenge was to reinvent the space as a stimulating environment while working within strict urban constraints.

“ “MOST took great care to understand our budget and detailed needs, while still bringing imagination to every corner of the design. The result is a space that’s playful, robust and inspiring for children and staff alike.” ”

Simon Nursery Director
Pelican Nursery
Our design approach balanced clear functional zones with organic play lines, encouraging both structured activity and free exploration.
Pelican Nursery
Our design journey began with rough diagrams and sketches exploring the courtyard’s constraints and potentials. We tested how to balance clearly defined activity zones—nest, sandpit, music wall and planting beds—with free‑flowing play lines that invite discovery. By working through different layouts, we found ways for the canopy to anchor the space, for the nest and sand area to interrelate, and for the graphics underfoot to subtly guide movement without fixing it. These early studies also set a material palette of timber, bark and resin‑bound rubber, underpinning the layered, sensory landscape you see in the final scheme.
Pelican Nursery
We explored different graphic identities for the ground markings and integrated branding directly into play surfaces. Iterations tested playful typefaces, spiral paths, and the positioning of key features such as the pelican nest, slide, and sandpit.
Pelican Nursery
The palette is deliberately tactile and nature‑inspired. Warm timbers, bark chips and stump seats encourage touch and rough‑and‑tumble play, while muted greens, ochres and terracotta ground the space in its garden setting. Bright resin‑bound rubber surfacing provides a durable, safe canvas for painted play lines. Each sample—from mossy greens to earthy reds—was chosen for its ability to age gracefully, withstand heavy use and support imaginative exploration. Together, these materials create a robust yet playful environment that feels cohesive and inviting.
Pelican Nursery
Pelican Nursery
Canopy as a Landmark.

A geometric canopy defines the heart of the courtyard, casting filtered light in shifting colours.
Its underside is treated as a graphic surface – bold stripes and patterns that energise the space.
Instead of bunting, durable panels and lighting elements make the canopy atmospheric all year.
Pelican Nursery
The Ground as a Game Board

Play lines and surfaces turn the ground into an interactive landscape.
Active Zone: resilient rubber with tracks, loops, hopscotch and spirals.
Nature Zone: bark, planters and a mini garden strip for planting and digging.
Quiet Zone: turf with small “nests” for reading, rest and small-group play.
Painted graphics are both games and wayfinding – creating rhythm and identity across the site.
Pelican Nursery
Layers of Play & Imagination

Natural structures – timber nests, balance logs and stepping stones – encourage climbing and storytelling.
A sand and water play corner introduces sensory exploration.
The fence becomes active: chalkboards for drawing, murals for identity, and a music wall of percussion elements.
Loose props – blocks, crates, ride-ons – keep the space adaptable, fostering invention.

The final proposal transforms the courtyard into a cohesive learning environment. Play nests, a sandpit, music wall, and flowing ground patterns create zones for storytelling, active play, and sensory discovery.

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