Gebt den Kindern das Kommando - Playground@Landscape

creativity, demonstrate boundaries, enable adventure and allow
children to grow up individually.
Creating play areas, however, also means that the playground’s end
identity is obtained only on the grounds itself and during the construction
phase. This requires non-rigid boundaries and flexibility in
the planning stage. “Children are catalysts for ideas. Without the
observation of children in the playground - in terms of the
behavioural and movement patterns - it would
scarcely be possible to create a playground
which is long-lasting, appealing and
which receives plenty of visitors to it
in long-term,” says David Weise.
But the observation is only part
of how to try and create free
space. Another key idea is to
involve and integrate
everyone in the planning
process and, eventually, in
the implementation stage.
For one thing, the feeling
42
endlich auch in deren
Umsetzung. Zum Einen entstünden
dabei Zusammengehörigkeitsgefühl
und Verantwortung
gegenüber dem
gemeinsam Aufgebauten.
Letztendlich könnten sich die
Anwohner nach Fertigstellung
des Platzes viel besser mit diesem
Ort identifizieren und damit auch
dem Vandalismus ein Stückweit entgegen
wirken. Zum Anderen, so Weise,
of solidarity and responsibility develops in respect of
what has been built. In the end, this meant that, after completion
of the playground, the residents could identify much better
with the place and this also helps somewhat to combat vandalism.
Another thing, according to Weise, after having spoken to children,
residents, parents and even with cyclists passing by, is that he
got much input in terms of ideas so that the playground could grow
on the strength of suggestions of all participants. Last but not least,
the father of three worked closely with the TÜV on the implementation
and the planning stages. Any equipment and buildings, of
course, correspond to current play equipment standards so that TÜVapproval
could be granted without any problems.
Due to this concept, the concrete plan of having the relief of natural
produce came about, with which selected miniature landscapes were
readjusted. Heaped-up hills of earth now make the
grounds appear flowing. Dry walls made using
rocks from the region stabilise the earthy
slopes and invite you to climb up.
Other natural material offering
variety and arousing curiosity
were used. Materials which
can be modelled, such as
sand, gravel, bark mulch
and wood contribute to
the moving image and
awake a desire for discovery
and ingenuity.
Large tubes and