Kapla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kapla is a wooden block toy for children and adults. Each block is an identically sized and shaped piece of pine, with proportions based on the odd numbers of 1, 3 and 5.
[edit] Origin and characteristics
The idea behind Kapla developed around 1985, when the Netherlands art historian and antique dealer Tom van der Bruggen moved to France and went looking for to a building block form to design a castle. The name Kapla comes from the Netherland term for "small planks", Kabouter Plankjes.
Contrary to many other wood blocks, Kapla are precisely sized and come in only one form. This is a cuboid in the ratio 1:3:15, i.e. with length five times its width, and width three times its height. The length of the longest side is twelve centimeters (4.7244 inches). (The "About Kapla" page gives the dimension in inches as 0.25 x 1 x 4.5).
The blocks are from pine wood and are usually unfinished, however colored blocks are available in six hues. The precision allows larger buildings to be constructed (the building in the picture needs about 1000 components).
The toy does not require any system of assembly; it is enough to start stacking the small planks to reveal all kinds of even complex constructions.
[edit] Commercial Availability
Kapla comes in boxes of 200, 280 or 1000 blocks. Additionally there are several idea books, but exact guides are not provided.
The target market is children, in French schools and kindergartens the blocks are used as educational toys. But the extensive possibilities of the simple form have appeal to construction minded adults.
