Minecraft Picnic transformed a familiar digital world into a physical, shared experience.
Built for Leith Late 2017, the project invited families, children, and curious visitors to step inside a life-size Minecraft-inspired environment. The installation reimagined play as a form of placemaking, using simple materials and collective making to activate an indoor public space.
From Game World to Real Space
The project asked a simple question: what happens when Minecraft becomes real?
A team of enthusiastic “miners” assembled a Picnic Biome inside Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Artificial grass, ladders, pallets, and recycled materials created a playful landscape that echoed the logic of the game while remaining tactile and accessible.
As a result, the space felt instantly familiar yet surprising.
Play as Placemaking
Minecraft Picnic explored play as a serious spatial tool.
Rather than a static installation, the project encouraged movement, interaction, and imagination. Children climbed, gathered, and invented their own uses for the space. Meanwhile, adults observed how quickly a temporary setup could foster social exchange.
Because the materials were low-cost and reusable, the installation also demonstrated how small interventions can create meaningful shared moments.
A Social and Musical Setting
The picnic environment did not stand alone.
During the event, the space hosted The Critters Session, a live music performance that added another layer of activity. Consequently, the installation shifted from playground to social venue, supporting different uses throughout the day.
This flexibility became a key strength of the project.
Temporary, Collective, Joyful
Minecraft Picnic embraced its temporary nature.
Built quickly and dismantled just as fast, the installation prioritised experience over permanence. However, the impact lasted longer than the event itself. It showed how recycled materials, collective effort, and playful design can activate underused spaces.
Above all, the project created a day of shared joy inside the Drill Hall.
Part of Leith Late
Minecraft Picnic formed part of Leith Late, a neighbourhood festival celebrating creativity, local venues, and community participation across Leith.
Within this context, the project contributed a family-friendly, inclusive moment that welcomed all ages.
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