YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
As a result, around 220,000 EUR is being invested in the modernisation of the elephants’ playground in the form of a wide variety of playground equipment. Within the framework of the building renovation work in the island settlement in Stuttgart-Wangen, which is being carried out in stages, the existing children’s playground is being completely regenerated. The 1.2m tall elephant sculpture, which gives the playground its name, and a circa three metre tall fountain column are being integrated into the newly designed playground.
The equipment that has been installed comes predominantly from the playground equipment manufacturer Kompan and the Robinia wood expert Ziegler Spielplätze. As a result of the excellent collaboration between the two playground equipment manufacturers as well as the garden and landscape architecture firm Stefan Link Dipl. –Ing and the contractor the Stuttgart Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft (SWSG) [Living and Urban Development Association], an attractive playground has been created, which will provide endless fun for children. The playground is, however, much more than just fun and games. When planning a playground, the focal point must always be ensuring that it will aid children’s development. Fun is a key motivational tool in getting children outdoors to exercise in the first instance. Nevertheless, a playground is a powerful tool on the road to helping children become healthier, to support their learning abilities and attain better social inclusion targets.
“Kompan is therefore very aware of developing solutions which will help children prepare, through play, for these important challenges in today’s society. The equipment is characterised by a high fun factor. The most current scientific knowledge flows from the Kompan Play Institute, comprised of a global network of child experts, into every piece of play equipment developed by Kompan,” says Gabriele Schmiedebauer, Kompan GmbH.
“The elephants’ playground has ample shade any time of the day thanks to the - predominantly Linden - tree population. It is for this reason that the tree population should be maintained, wherever possible, and integrated into the playground. In addition, the planned play area requires extensive fall protection or sand play areas. As a result of the necessary fall protection areas, encroaching on the tree population would have been unavoidable. This led to the idea to integrate part of the woods into the fall protection areas with tree houses,” said Stefan Link, Dipl.-Ing (FH), garden and landscape architect. The numerous seating opportunities along the circular path offer a shaded place for visitors to the playground to rest, at any time of the day. Parking rails are available for cyclists and three lampposts enable the playground to be used as a connecting path between individual buildings during the night.
“Family friendly living and integration are important goals that the SWSG pursues in all its projects. During the course of the modernisation process of the 400 or so housing units in the Stuttgart Wangen island settlement we will also redesign the elephants' playground. What will arise is a veritable adventure playground for children of all ages. The following playground equipment will be included: two tree houses (circa 1.60m high) with slides and climbing opportunities. Both tree houses are linked by a bridge and a rope to balance on. A dice-shaped boulder to climb up and around. A sand building site play area for small children aged up to five, ground trampoline, hopping stones, double swing and a hedge maze.
To help encourage integration there is a small piazza with seating opportunities that should act as a meeting point for different generations. There are also plenty of trees providing shade. We are positive that the new playground equipment will be met with delight and will naturally provide excitement, play and fun!
Completely independent of the elephants’ playground project, the Stuttgart Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft (SWSG) [Living and Urban Development Association] plans the following with every playground redesign project: of course first and foremost, the play surfaces should be appealing to the young tenants who will be using it. In addition, other residents should enjoy attractively designed external surfaces and enjoy spending time there. So if modernisation is taking place or something new entirely is being built, it does not concern just the residences themselves – the planners at the SWSG also pay careful attention to the external surfaces. It is for this reason that we have to pay close attention to the conditions at each site and observe which requirements should be taken into consideration during the planning stage. The open spaces should be regarded as a place where different generations and cultures can come into contact with one another; that is, an ideal meeting point for children, youths, families, individuals, couples and the elderly.
The SWSG spends around one million Euros each year on the maintenance, modernisation and redesigning of the play areas. With climbing apparatus, hedge mazes and individual elements such as the cycle parcour course in Stuttgart Giebel, the children should have a great time. The challenge of this process is creating meeting places for young and old while being able to offer play equipment for the appropriate age groups. It’s easy to see whether we have been successful in our endeavours: at every lively and busy piazza square we know that we’ve done everything correctly,” explains Stephanie Wachtarz, Media and Public Relations at the Stuttgart Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft [Living and Urban Development Association].
The playground in Geislinger Straße in Stuttgart will create positive results for the children and their development thanks to its comprehensive selection of carefully thought out play opportunities, and the appeal of the residential area will be increased as a result, too.
TM
Photos: Kompan
