What if a single LEGO brick could redefine how children discover sport?
That’s the bold idea brought to life by LEGO China and Nike through a joint initiative launched at a primary school in Shanghai. The goal: reconnect children with movement—not through rigid, rule-based disciplines, but through a free, living, infinitely modular playground. A life-sized tribute to imagination and childhood creativity.
When Play Becomes a Learning Engine
The project began with the “Build the Change” workshop organized by LEGO China during the summer. In this open creative space, children were invited to design and share ideas using LEGO’s iconic colorful bricks.
One universal observation quickly emerged: for children, play and movement are inseparable.
This insight inspired a collaboration with Nike under its Move to Zero program, dedicated to sustainability and innovation in sport. Together, the two brands envisioned a space where creativity and physical activity merge seamlessly.
A Playground Inspired by a 2×3 LEGO Brick
Starting from a simple 2×3 LEGO brick, the brands designed a modular playground that breaks away from traditional sports infrastructure.
Installed at Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School in Shanghai, the structure allows children to create their own courses, invent new uses, and transform every recess into a playful athletic adventure.
Gone are rigid court lines and fixed game rules. Instead, LEGO-inspired shapes become tools for movement. The space encourages exploration, experimentation, and autonomy—core values for nurturing creativity and self-confidence.
A Sustainable and Responsible Project
Nike entrusted the design to architect Chengyu Fu (known as @c.y.fu_studio), integrating a strong environmental dimension into the project.
The playground is built using recycled materials, including footwear from the Nike Grind program. This initiative is part of a broader plan to construct 100 sustainable sports courts across China, with 42 already completed in 2025.
The project reflects both brands’ ambition to go beyond branding and deliver tangible social and environmental impact.
When Brands Become Platforms for Expression
This collaboration goes far beyond installing a playground. It embodies a shared belief: sport is a living experience.
Children are no longer passive participants following fixed rules. They become active creators, capable of reinventing how games are played and defining their own movements.
This isn’t the first partnership between LEGO and Nike. The brands previously launched customizable sneakers compatible with LEGO bricks. This latest activation reinforces their shared mission—to bring creativity, play, and movement together in a participatory and inclusive way.
In Shanghai, a simple brick has become something bigger: a symbol of how imagination can reshape sport—one modular piece at a time.
