Villa di Maria Natural Playground

DG2 Design collaborated with Villa di Maria Montessori and DJM Ecological to design a unique playground for children ages 2.5–12, grounded in Montessori principles. This thoughtfully crafted space nurtures each child’s journey toward academic excellence and empowers them to embrace life’s challenges with innovation, compassion, determination, grace, and kindness.

Nestled among mature shade trees and adjacent to a picnic shelter and outdoor classroom, the playground serves as a natural extension of the Montessori learning environment. Here, children engage with elements that inspire creativity, independence, and hands-on exploration—key aspects of Montessori education. Features like tree stumps, embankment slides, tunnels, a “stump jungle gym,” and willow sculptures encourage imaginative play and physical activity. Loose parts invite endless creativity, transforming into rocket ships, volcanoes, clubhouses, and factories in the children’s hands.

This outdoor time is often the highlight of a child’s day, fostering social interaction, exercise, and joyful discovery. It’s also a favorite topic at pick-up time: “Guess what we made on the playground today!”