Body Blocks uses wooden building blocks to shape how children understand human form, identity and body positive self-image. Developed Beirut-based designer Davina Attalah for her practice House Humbaba, which explores the intersection of identity and play, Body Blocks is a modular, stacking, wooden block play set that offers an open-ended system where play becomes a quiet but powerful exploration of body types.
Recommended for children aged three and up, the set consists of interchangeable heads, torsos and bases in a variety of shapes, sizes and proportions. This allows for endless combinations of figures, resulting in a fluid, ever changing cast of characters that reflect the diversity of real human bodies. Through tactile, hands-on interaction, the system invites curiosity, creativity and an intuitive appreciation of differences in body types.
Body Blocks was designed to challenge the standardised and idealised body types often represented in toys, encouraging children to construct their own interpretations of identity through open-ended play. In doing so, it demonstrates how design can shape perception from an early age fostering inclusivity through quiet play experiences.
Released as a numbered collectible sets, the wooden blocks are crafted from certified wood using natural, non-toxic materials and is hand-finished for a high-quality tactile experience. By celebrating multiplicity and imagination, Body Blocks offers a more inclusive foundation for how future generations see themselves and others.
