Design a successful mall playground, it is not merely putting several sets of play equipment.
A good indoor playground inside a mall should balance safety, traffic flow, theme, aesthetics, and commercial value, it really becomes a key highlight for improving shopping mall foot traffic and residence time.
The following is a systematic design way, helping you to build a professional and sustainable operational indoor playground space inside malls.
The core factors must be considered before designing
1. Space assessment and moving line planning
Firstly, entirely to evaluate the usable area and floor height before planning the mall playground.
If the usable area regular?
If it has some cylinders or structure constraints?
If the floor heights meet the demands of the climbing structure or slide height?
Is it near the main channel or family-oriented businesses(catering, cinema, maternal and infant stores)?
Reasonable moving line design need to do:
Children's entrance and exit clearly to avoid crowded.
Parent’s resting area and play area need to keep good vision.
Keep the emergency evacuation routes smoothing.
A good indoor playground inside mall must blend in shopping mall movement naturally, rather than block the flow of people.
2. Safety standards and compliance
Safety is the core of play area design.
For example, usually need to follow in the U.S. market:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission（CPSC）
ASTM International（ASTM）
The key of safety design:
Rounded corner structure design
High-density soft-pack protection
Anti-slip flooring system
Reasonable spacing between equipment
Clear age division
3. Clear the target age groups
Children of different age groups have different demands:
1 - 3 years old: Low heights, software structures, and sensory elements.
3 - 6 years old: Slide, climb, and role-playing.
6 years and older: Challenge structure and obstacle course.
Popular Indoor Playground Equipment Inside a Mall
Shopping environment is different from large theme park, the equipment selection must to balance safety, floor space efficiency, and commercial attractiveness.
1. Soft Play Structure
The most common core devices in the shopping mall:
Multi-layer platform
Tunnel
Soft bag barrier
Wave slide
Small climbing net
Advantages:
High land utilization rate
High security
Suitable for multiple age groups
2. Slides
The slide is always a core attraction of the play area.
Suitable for slide types in the shopping mall, including:
Straight slide
Spiral slide
Double-track racing slide
Mini wave slide
To advise control height, and avoid overstimulating devices affecting the overall environment of a shopping mall.
3. Ball pit
The ball pit can strengthen the visual impact and interactivity, very suitable for the slide combination design.
Design Focus:
Antibacterial and eco-friendly spheres
Regular cleaning regimen
Clear capacity control
It can not only improve interest, but also extend children’s residence time.
4. Mini Role-Play Are
Mini city and career experience area suitable for a shopping scene:
Small supermarket
Small hospital
Small kitchen
Small fire station
This kind of play area emphasizes interaction and imagination, it is more suitable for “lighting entertainment” positioning of a shopping mall.
5. Mini Ninja Obstacle
If the space allows, you can add some small challenge elements, for example:
Climbing net
Soft balancing bridge
Low height barrier
Compared to large-scale competitive facilities, the shopping mall is more suitable for "light Challenge" edition, fun and safe.
Aesthetics and the Shopping mall brand
A good mall playground must consistent with the overall vision of the shopping mall:
Color schemes coordinate with the shopping mall brand.
Theme design(forest, outer space, seas and oceans)
Customize LOGO and IP
The unified vision system can strengthen the brand memory, and improve commercial value.
Parent Rest Area Design
The success of an indoor playground in a shopping mall, it depends on parental experiences.
Suggestion:
Set up a comfortable sofa or bar counter seats.
Offer some charging sockets
Clear vision and no obstruction
Set up a simple coffee and dining area.
The more residence time for parents, the better the consumption conversion rate.
Guidance system and operation management
A good guidance system includes:
Age zoning tips
Safety instructions
Maximum capacity
Emergency exit guidelines
The clear guide not only improves experiences, but also reduces the operational risks
A successful mall playground must takes a balance between safety, theme, space utilization, and commercial value. A good indoor playground inside mall is not only a play area, but also an important asset to improve shopping mall foot traffic and strengthen family stickiness.
You can also build a good indoor playground inside mall with safety, attraction, and sustainable long-term operation through the scientific plannings, rational selection, and support of a professional supplier.
FAQ
Q: How big is the size for an indoor playground in a shopping mall?
A: Usually advise 150–800 square meters, according to market location and crowd flow adjustment.
Q: Is the play area in the shopping mall safe?
A: Only conform to CPSC and ASTM standards, and use the soft package design, high security.
Q: Is the mall suitable for a large trampoline?
A: Usually not. Large trampoline equipment is more suitable for an independent venue, the shopping mall is more suitable for lightweight equipment.
Q: How long should to maintain once?
A: Cleaning every day, safety inspection every month, and comprehensive maintenance quarterly.
Q: If mall playground need to buy commercial insurance?
A: Yes. Including:
Public liability insurance
Accident insurance
Equipment property insurance
Q: How long about the payback period for an indoor playground in a shopping mall?
A: According to area, rent, and passenger flow, the payback period is about 12 – 24 months.
Q: Will the mall take a commission or a fixed rent?
A: Both modes have:
Fixed rent model
Rent + commission on sales
Q: How long is the standard duration of a shopping mall contract?
A: Usually, it is 3 – 5 years.
Q: How long is the replacement cycle for the equipment?
A: Generally, 3–5 years.
The high-quality indoor playground equipment inside malls can be used for 5–8 years, but the visual update needs to remake within 3–4 years.
