Gebt den Kindern das Kommando - Playground@Landscape

In den Plattenfugen sind Schlitzrinnen für die Entwässerung
unauffällig integriert. Das Oberflächenwasser wird
unter dem Platz versickert.
Noch spenden vor allem die angrenzenden Gebäude Schatten,
in einigen Jahren werden dies die 36 neu gepflanzten
Bäume tun. Die Baumscheiben sind mit schwarzen Metallrosten
bündig in die weißen Betonhügel über der Tiefgarage
eingelassen.
Der Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz wird als große Skater-Arena angenommen,
er ist aber auch modelliertes Terrain für
Radfahrer, Inline-Skater und Trittroller. Kleine Kinder
laufen über die Hügel und springen von den Kanten. Ein
buildings. The tree discs are embedded flush with black metal grid
frames in the white concrete hills over the underground car park.
The Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz public square is being adopted as a
large skater arena, but it is also moulded terrain for cyclists, inline
skaters and scooters. Young children run over hills and jump from
the edges. A water fountain and a well system will be integrated
into the area in the summer.
The attractiveness of the public square is partly down to its size of
almost 9,000 m² and the diversity of surface shapes. The hills,
folds, waves and edges are all different shapes and are not tweaked
in accordance to the specific requirements of skaters. But it’s precisely
this aspect which makes places interesting for many skaters.
These so-called “discovered locations”, in contrast to the “constructed
places” of skate parks, are often public places in the centre
of town. In specialist literature, four dimensions are identified,
which make places attractive for skaters and obviously apply to the
Eduard- Wallnöfer-Platz public place: The place has to be easy to
reach and well known; it must be suitable for meeting up, relaxation,
watching and “hanging about”. A limited about of possible
conflicts with other users is also relevant, such as the spectrum of
possible tricks. At the Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz public square, there
is plenty to try out and discover from beginners to advanced level.
Reducing it to a skater’s paradise, however, is not possible.
38
Wasserspiel und eine Brunnenanlage werden im Sommer
in das Spiel miteingebunden.
Die Attraktivität des Platzes liegt zum Teil in seinem Ausmaß
von fast 9.000 m² und in der Vielfalt an Oberflächenformen
begründet. Die Hügel, Falten, Wellen und Kanten
sind unterschiedlich ausgeformt und nicht nach spezifischen
Anforderungen von Skatern optimiert. Aber gerade
dieser Aspekt macht Orte für viele Skater interessant. Diese
sogenannten „gefundenen Orte“, im Gegensatz zu den
„konstruierten Orten“ der Skateranlagen, sind oftmals öffentliche
Plätze im Zentrum der Städte. In der Fachliteratur
The principal behind trying it out, discovering it, also applies to all
other users. Away from the traffic, parents let their young ones try
out riding a bike for the first time, others are fastening up their inline
skates many years later. The pedestrian guidance system is controlled
using topography, without the paths being identified.
The homogeneous concrete pavement creates uniformity, which
defines the square. Adventurous surface shapes and subtle surface
structures generate much diversity in the unity, which establish an
exciting spatial experience and permit many different uses. However,
the absence of provisions on the square signalise that it is
therefore for everyone. This is an essential part of the quality. The
Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz public square is not a traditional youth
playground, not an arrangement of individual elements. The coherent
draft of the public square integrates the play functions. The
consistent, uniform landscape architectural composition allows for
many different uses and adoption by all users.
Further information:
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Dagmar Grimm-Pretner
(Institute for Landscape Architecture (ILA),
University of Agricultural Sciences in Vienna)
Dipl.-Ing. Karl Grimm
(Karl Grimm Landschaftsarchitekten Wien –
Karl Grimm Landscape Architects in Vienna)