YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
Due to the height difference – 2.20 meters between the top and bottom levels of the “Altensteigerle” path on the former railroad route – the set-up has an arena-like design with an external play area that extends from the top down towards an inner, centrally located sand play area. The play area is raised approximately 0.60 – 1.2 meters above the surrounding barrier-free footpath thereby creating a green wall on the outside and an internal area to play in. A narrow walkway in the internal area created by using gabions extends from the main path outwards. It is circa 30cm lower than the Waldach riverside path and created a generous grass terrace at the riverside path that can be used as a resting area.
At the southern end of the wall, different climbing opportunities were created to add a play element to overcome the height difference. Access to a multi-functional climbing landscape made from naturally grown pole wood with a crow’s nest, climbing ropes, horizontal bars, swings, and much more can be found at the top of the wall.
In order to assert itself against the dominating presence of the viaduct arch, a large slide tower cuts an imposing figure on the crest of the hill. The main attractions here are the height of the tower, the tremendous view, crawling at a great height through a breezy lattice tunnel, as well as the slide experience through two long tube slides 4.30m and 6.20m above the sand play area respectively. The tower’s five play levels are connected using ladders from within. You can get from one level to another on the outside of the tower via the semi-circular stainless steel lattice tunnel, which is attached to the façade. The path on the hill leads via a platform and a ladder directly through the tower and into the inside. The lowest platform can be reached from the sand play area via a sloping net that goes directly over the embankment onto the lowest play platform.
As opposed to the large slide tower with its relatively tenuous link to the sand play area level, the smaller play combinations with footbridges and gangplanks leading to the hillside path are found directly inside the sand play area. It was conceived more with small children in mind with an array of play options for the sand (with a sand crane, sand sieve, etc…), double slides, net bridge, platforms, as well as a cave between the middle and top levels. The embankment bordering on the sand play area, particularly in the southern segment of the area, provides excellent conditions for additional climbing opportunities. A combined climbing platform with guy rope, climbing grips and footholds, as well as a climbing ladder with slanting rungs, has been affixed to the embankment. The play offering is further enhanced by the presence of a sludge area, which is fed by a hand pump and water dispenser.
The northern, lower part of the wall is densely populated with tree copses, which are interspersed with small, wood chip covered passages (good hiding places, among other things). There is a paved walkway dotted with benches which joins the narrow walkway to a tree plaza at the Waldach riverside path, opening up the playground in the process. From this little plaza out, the embankment is set with stones which make it possible to access the River Waldach, which has been naturally regenerated.
The playground was designed by Stefan Fromm, landscape architect BDLA. Design and planning: playground apparatus: playground apparatus integration into the park, Dipl. Ing. Norbert Schwarz, together with Stefan Fromm, landscape architect BDLA. Construction and installation of playground apparatus: FHS Holztechnik GmbH. Construction of the playground area: Gartenbau Stier GmbH & Co. KG.
Sparkassen-adventure park in the Kleb town park
The playground (“Sparkassen adventure park”) in the newly-designed Kleb town park marks the northern end of the park grounds and is the counterpart to the mini-golf course on the opposite side of the grounds. Between these two there is a meadow, a large, open central location, which is covered with “poles” which can be intensively used for recreational purposes. The playground, like the mini-golf course, boasts an accompanying pavilion, providing a sheltered area to rest in next to the public toilets. A temporary catering facility is available on site for the duration of the garden show. In order to make the most of the sunlight, the playground was slotted into the park facing south, thereby avoiding the shadows cast by the neighbouring hill atop of which sits the castle.
The utmost care was taken to consider the feedback provided from the playground exchange programme involving numerous schools and kindergartens carried out by Nagold town Council. The design of the generously-designed play landscape includes the longitudinal structuring that is applied through the entire town park in order to ensure the permeability of the Nagold valley. The design was based on polygonal elements in the form of hills, play areas and development areas. These elements skip over the crossroad between the castle hill terrace and the River Ufer embankment, ensuring that the path isn’t a divider but a connecting line, from which the entire area arises as a creative whole.
North of the path lies the toddlers’ play area, directly placed alongside the pavilion and the small plaza with its seating area under the trees. The focal point is a sand play area with a bird’s nest swing, bowl spring rocker, animal spring rockers, sand diggers and a sludge area. Situated on the west side of the park on a 1 metre high hill are a wooden playhouse and a toddlers’ chute. On the east side of park in a circa 20cm deep gravel pit there are two small sailing boats “swimming”, which can be moved to and fro on chains. A wooden deck of generous proportions accompanied by fitness equipment for all generations and various play opportunities designed predominantly for older children comprises the southern part of the area. There are two themes that have conceptually been incorporated into the design, and which make reference to the local area where the playground is situated: the Hohennagold castle ruins and the historical rafting that took place on both rivers – the Waldach and Nagold.
On a hill 1.60m in height there is a play tower reminiscent of the castle with a large tunnel slide leading down to the bottom. In the direction of Nagold there is a large gravel area in which two rafts with various play options “swim”. Between the two there is a large, central sand play area with a multi-functional “climbing structure” and further attractive play opportunities, such as a high double swing, a double hammock, and balance blocks.
In the direction of the crossroad there is a sunken water play area, approximately 20cm deep, which is fed by a freshwater pump, water wheel and weir with the water originating from a waterway located on the castle hill. The water play area, which is mounted with cobbles and stones, boasts a “water forest” – three high rods that spray random jets of water. The water flows over an overflow into a drain system made from shell limestone blocks, which carries the water from the tufa-forming springs in the castle hill to the Nagold.
On another hill (1.20m high) in the direction of the riverside embankment, there are seating steps hewn into the hill, offering another place to rest just like the benches scattered throughout the entire site.
The playground design was created by Stefan Fromm, landscape architect BDLA. Design and planning of the playground apparatus: Richter Spielgeräte GmbH, together with Stefan Fromm, landscape architect at BDLA. Construction of the playground apparatus: Richter Spielgeräte GmbH, Kinderland Emsland playground apparatus (bowl spring rockers). Installation of playground apparatus: Eckhart Herrmann, Werner GmbH Garten- und Landschaftsbau. Construction of the playground area: Werner GmbH Garten- und Landschaftsbau.
Text and pictures:
Stefan Fromm, Dipl.-Ing.
Landscape architect BDLA
Breitwasenring 2
72135 Dettenhausen
Telephone 07157/ 721 931-0
Direct dial 07157/ 721 931-12
Fax 07157/ 721 931-39
info@fromm-landschaftsarchitekten.de
nicole.weiss@fromm-landschaftsarchitekten.de
www.fromm-landschaftsarchitekten.de
