Whether it’s Central Park in New York, Lake Baldeney in Essen or a green courtyard in Berlin – there are examples and stimuli both small and large. The following two examples both show how the topic ‘play’ also has its place in this context.
It’s hidden away in northern Berlin: A small but fine, and above all else, green, playground: the Schollenhof in the ‘Freie Scholle’ housing estate. The area, made up of blocks of encircling residential buildings which were planned in 1920 by Bruno Taut and are now listed buildings, combine with the green plantation to restrict the noise coming from Waidmannsluster Damm.
While the structure of the square may originate from the previous century, it remains contemporary; it is divided into three sections – a children’s playground, sports fields and an adjoining green area – which meet the needs of all groups living here. The old tree population creates wonderful shadows and in the bushes the children have created little paths where they can play hide and seek. The playground is new and is changed annually. The equipment manufacturers and co-operative building society have formed an unlikely alliance. “Previously the only thing here was a square shaped climbing frame,” remembers David Köhler, Managing Director of Berliner Seilfabrik. “Bit by bit we have renewed everything. We’re allowed to erect new equipment repeatedly in order to show it in action to customers and partners. The ‘Freie Scholle’ receives new equipment from time to time so it is a win-win situation for everyone.” The children that live in the neighbourhood can be especially happy. This summer the Berlin playground equipment manufacturer constructed an enormous white and blue climbing dome. The product is to be presented to industry experts at the GaLaBau trade fair. It is attached to a modern climbing area made of ropes with low-hanging elements and from an equally new nest swing. There are, however, also ‘classic’ playground attractions such as swings, roundabouts and seesaws available. The equipment is stylishly and futuristically designed.
“The Schollenhof is my children’s favourite playground,” says Sandra, who lives in the housing estate with her four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. “We come here nearly four times a week. My eldest can already use all the equipment. The adjoined football pitch is also excellent, of course. The little one is already trying to climb up the nets but hasn’t managed it quite yet. But as an aid in learning to walk, the ropes are ideally suited.” The housing estate, which was created in 1899, boasts a strong social network because many of the residents have lived there their entire lives. They know one another. Although it’s not far from Berlin, the area emanates a village quality with a bourgeoisie vibe. ‘The green estate’, how the Berlin citizens describe the area, is definitely a good place to raise children.
The Adolfstraße playground in Berlin-Wedding was redesigned for a somewhat different user group. Many of the children who live here are not of German descent, with parents receiving Hartz IV (state benefits). The creative way in which the children play with the ropes barely differs from the children at the ‘Schollaner’. They climb, balance, swing and play hide and seek “without touching the ground” in exactly the same manner. Role-playing games are also commonplace. The ‘circus’ theme of the playground, which was opened in 2010, is one the children that use the area can pick up and develop, or not. It’s left completely to their own imagination.
After extensive public participation in the early stages, the landscape architects form the Gruppe F planning office in Berlin designed a green neighbourhood meeting point for the residents. The nearby neighbourhood management office and local youth club, which is based in a neighbouring building, co-operate to ensure that the new playground remains clean and undamaged. The vast extent of the park area, which covers over 4,000m², can only be guessed at when viewed from the street. The visitor is drawn in by the sight of two elephants and an enormous circus themed wall mural. The quality of time spent there is further enhanced by the numerous benches available and even a sunbathing area. Further in there is a sports area and the highlight of the entire park; in a circular sand pit there stands, under the shade of the old trees prevalent in the park, a series of challenging, wildly interweaving climbing elements. It’s an exciting experience for those using the equipment to get to know the various functions of the numerous play elements and to master them all. In doing so they develop a better understanding of the laws of physics and mathematics. The elements used in the low-hanging rope garden were specifically designed and perfectly tailored for the location. “We paid special attention to preserving the old tree population and integrating the trees into the design,” says Heinrich Stoppel, project designer at Berliner Seilfabrik. “Ropes are never fixed directly onto the trees. First of all, it constitutes a safety risk because the structural safety is impossible to determine, even in healthy, fully-grown trees, as opposed to the posts that we use. After all, we don’t want a swing to collapse. Secondly, the constricting effect of tying the rope around the tree trunk is damaging to the tree. In theory, the attachment mounted on the tree would need to be loosened every year and properly fitted again to take into account the increased circumference of the tree. Adapting the equipment to the respective ground surface is far more environmentally friendly.”
The Guggenheim Lab at its tour location in Berlin is currently asking us how “we manage to balance modern comfort and the urgent necessity to be environmentally responsible, which strengthens us as social beings.” Both of the examples mentioned show that the city, with its technical and architectural solutions can still enjoy harmonious integration into existing green areas. An area of conflict is created but the assumed conflict is resolved by an exciting act of co-operation.
Alena Kniesche, Berliner Seilfabrik
Photo: Berliner Seilfabrik, Urban Design Berlin
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