What if Europe invested in play?

How playgrounds, trust, and social infrastructure could shape Europe’s future.

This week, I’m joined by Johanna Fabrin, Managing Director of 21st Europe and former strategist at IKEA’s innovation lab Space10, to explore how playgrounds — yes, playgrounds — could redefine Europe’s identity, resilience, and competitiveness over the next decades.

In this conversation, we look at why play might be one of Europe’s most overlooked strategic tools.

We discuss:

✅ Why playgrounds are “critical infrastructure,” not a luxury

✅ How play builds trust across diverse communities and cultures

✅ Why climate-resilient playgrounds matter for European cities

✅ How play prepares children for an AI-driven future labour market

✅ What Europe can offer the world beyond GDP growth

“If we don’t believe that we can make the future better, then we won’t step up and take responsibility for making it so.”

Reading recommendation: Citizens by Jon Alexander

Project link: Continent of Play

Could a Europe built for play be a stronger, more connected continent?

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Music: spear_oh

Keywords: Europe, playgrounds, trust, urbanism, public space, social infrastructure, climate resilience, Space10, 21st Europe, European cities, AI skills, community building, livable cities, wellbeing, European identity.