Keeping children curious, creative and confident through offering the adventurous childhood they deserve – this is the principle that elevates Lukas Ritson’s play environments.
Lukas believes that play should be a holistic experience for children – one that fosters connection, encourages resilience, and cultivates compassion. His innovative playground designs emphasise sustainable, quality materials, as they create a healthy stage for limitless learning opportunities.
His work has touched the lives of tens of thousands of children Australia-wide. He has collaborated with childcare centres, schools, community gardens and educational nature-based events, such as the Green Heart Fair Brisbane and Childhood Summit 2019 by Nature Play QLD. He has also presented keynote talks on sustainability and ‘risky-play’ in Finland, the United States and across Australia.
Lukas’s extensive knowledge as an outdoor educator heavily influences his design style: green open spaces scattered with native plants for free-range exploration; recycled timber structures to climb and welcome risk; secluded zones for quiet moments. A background in the culinary arts drives him to ignite a positive early relationship with food, by incorporating garden beds and chicken coops into early educational centres and schools.
Respect for nature is the ultimate philosophy of Lukas’ work, and his life. He currently calls the surf coast of Queensland, Australia, his home – specifically a house in the hinterland with distant views of the ocean. When he’s not on his surfboard, recentering among nature, he is reminded of the importance of play while wrangling his two wild children alongside his wife, and Wearthy co-founder, Vanessa.
