The National Garden Festival (BUGA) as a play paradise for children and young people
At the historical castle of the count elector in Koblenz, event location for the German federal horticultural show 2011, various parks and gardens on the grounds have been renovated. A new themed playground, a skateboard park and a water play area were included in the building plan.
Landscape architect Johannes Czerniejewski (RMP Stephan Lenzen Landscape Architects from Bonn, Germany) chose the motto "Empress Augusta's jewellery box" for the themed playground in the north-western area of the castle's forecourt. This idea was based on the historic location and the earlier German Empress Augusta who lived for many years in Koblenz and, was responsible for the creation of the gardens during this time.
Between 1856 and 1858 Augusta von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, later to become the German Empress and Queen of Prussia, resided in the Koblenz Electoral Palace. During these two years she took the opportunity to fill the place and its surrounding with the brilliance of court life, as she had known it in her childhood at the royal court at Weimar. The "Jewel Box” on the palace forecourt now recalls in a playful way the time spent by the Empress at Koblenz.
The playground at the Electoral Palace is totally in keeping with its classical backdrop. Its basic rectangular design is dictated by the architectural arrangement of the palace forecourt. "Empress Augusta’s Jewel Box" invites children to play with over-sized play equipment such as a swing and a see-saw in the shape of a mirror and a hairpin. The crown has become an exciting climbing tower and the various slide balls are connected into a chain of pearls: a highlight for today's little princes and princesses.
The ground surface is constructed throughout in a seamless fall protection surfacing. In imitation of a jewel box lined with velvet, floral ornaments have been worked into the red surfacing.
The barrier-free playground is suitable for children from 4 to 14 years of age.
The square playground is around 10 to 15 cm lower than the surrounding paths. An area of 450 square metres of play and path surfacing was created using playfix seamless safety surfacing made by BSW. The main area and the marquetry inlay are made of a mixture of two granulate colours. "The majestic patterns and the restrained colours of the playground equipment mirror the building concept in an optimal way," says Czerniejewski. "In addition, the colourful design provides added play value." This is also the reason why the landscape architect was intent on working with a material which, through its composition and method of installation, made a multicoloured design possible - playfix was just the thing. The two-layer system guarantees the required impact protection properties while the coloured wear layer provides unlimited freedom for creative design. The integrated playground equipment was surrounded by the playflix flooring without seams being formed. This created a play-and-experience space with barrier free access, suitable for use by children of all ages. Integration of disabled children was also considered in the choice of playground equipment. Many of the play structures are purpose-built items made especially for this playground using stainless steel and designed to be as "see-through" as possible. "Due to the historical environment we attached great importance to the transparency of the playground equipment," stated the architect. Empress Augusta would surely have been pleased with this landscape design.
The playground on the forecourt of the Koblenz Palace was constructed between 2006 and 2010; it covers a surface area of 500 m² and cost 175,000 Euros (net) to build. The work was carried out by the landscape design firm, Büro RMP Stephan Lenzen Landschaftsarchitekten.
Buoys for the Ehrenbreitstein complex on the Rhine
Away from the streams of visitors the riverside park in Ehrenbreitstein on the right hand bank of the Rhine was cleaned up and redesigned for the National Garden Festival. The redesigned children's playground is a landmark which can be seen from far and near.
The original playground was enlarged by 400 m². Elements of inland navigation have been combined in play themes on two levels.
Towards the Rhine the playground is enclosed by a site-mixed concrete wall. Coloured portholes in various sizes and a chamfered outer side like the bow of a ship give the wall a character all its own. The enclosure is broken up at regular intervals by coloured metal steles. These serve as drainage for floodwater.
Much of the play equipment has been specially manufactured. Shipping and navigation themes were the inspiration for this playground. Three light buoys made of stainless steel stand in the sand play area. The integrated climbing nets, ladder rungs, sliding poles and loopholes are aligned on continuous play and motion sequences. Classic elements, such as swings, carrousels and a small slide blend in seamlessly with the play theme. Two telescopes offer a view over the panorama of the town on the opposite bank and the "real" ships on the Rhine. Redesign of the playground on the right hand bank of the Rhine.
The playground on the right hand bank of the Rhine was constructed between 2006 and 2010; it covers a surface area of 400 m² and cost 250,000 Euros (net) to build. The work on this playground was also carried out by the landscape design firm, Büro RMP Stephan Lenzen Landschaftsarchitekten.
Impact protection surfacing
Opposite to the "Jewellery box" is another square-shaped fixture, the new skateboard park - also designed by architect Johannes Czerniejewski. The unit is surrounded by playfix impact protection surfacing with a basalt and slate grey wear surface which harmonises well with the grey concrete areas inside it.
Located at 'Deutschen Eck' in the close vicinity to the castle, a new water playground has been built. It is designed to be an interactive play area where the different aspects of water can be experienced. The circular area is made of a total of 113 square meters of the seamless safety flooring playfix aqua creating a colourful setting. The playfix aqua surfacing is especially designed for use in wet play areas. The surface remains slip-resistant even when wet, and its open-pored structure is water permeable, preventing the formation of permanent puddles. It can be easily combined with other materials. Landscape architect Christoph Hald, from the company Atelier Dreiseitl GmbH in Überlingen, Germany, had already worked with playfix in other projects and it was his first choice of material for this playground. "On the one hand, playfix provides the required impact protection properties and, on the other, the material offers countless possibilities for coloured designs," he explains.
The German federal horticultural show is open to visitors until October 16, 2011. During the show and afterwards, visitors of all ages will enjoy using the new play and leisure areas.
TM
Fotos: BUGA, RMP Stephan Lenzen Landschaftsarchitekten, BSW
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