A Case Study in Outdoor Design: Berlin Playgrounds8 : Variety and Texture

Project Information

Introduction

The natural playgrounds have a sense of intrigue and invite you to explore – they make you want to smell, touch and investigate every part. In contrast to a grass or tarmac desert, they are bursting with a variety of different textures throughout.

The Schools Programme commissioned Grounds for Learning to create a series of nine case studies, which looks at and documents the widespread transformation of play spaces in schools, kindergartens and public parks in Berlin, Germany.

The nine case studies focus on different themes that were important factors in the spaces’ successes. The themes are;

1. Choice2. Risk and Challenge3. Nature with a Capital N4. Play Machines5. Sand6. Shade and Seating7. Topography8. Variety and Texture9. Water

Within each case study there are examples and images from a variety of settings – schools, nurseries and public play parks – to show the variation and scope of the design ideas. All areas shown began life as fl at, dull tarmac grounds but they demonstrate that it is possible to transform schoolyards into playgrounds.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

Horizontal Features

Tarmac and paving slabs are replaced by a variety of surfaces – chosen to both suit their function but also to add interest. Materials include sand and bark for shock absorption, ‘hollow brick’ type paving for high use, and areas of small cobbles for mosaics.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

Barefoot Paths

By the nature of the materials used, children experience a wide variety of textures and materials but in a few settings sensory walkways have been purposefully designed.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

Vertical Surfaces

Surfaces are inviting to touch and are often bespoke and created in stages with an artist. They are often irregular and use a variety of materials brought by the children. Materials include - mosaics, recycled paving slabs, bricks and found objects bought in.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

Other materials include planks, carved wood, trees and poles.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

And grass, bushes, rocks, carved stone and metal.

Practicalities

Cost of Materials

Many of the materials used in the playgrounds were brought in by families over time. Kindergartens and schools would collect piles of stones, bricks and items for mosaics for building walls, raised beds and decorations and when they had enough they would build small structures by hand.

Many of the structures such as the walls and raised beds were built on community days where teams of parents worked alongside a builder or architect. This ensured that the overall design was correct but allowed for individual interpretation and kept the costs down. One architect said that the workmen or parents “started as builders but ended as artists”.

The bespoke play equipment was expensive and a lot was made in conjunction with artists. Often however a piece of regular play equipment (e.g. a bucket swing) was combined with natural poles for support to reduce the cost.

Most of the projects were following an overall design and were being completed in stages to minimise cost, working with artists and parents for one large object/area a year.

Berlin Playgrounds : Variety and Texture

Architecture and Design Scotland

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Project Information

The Schools Programme commissioned Grounds for Learning to create a series of nine case studies, which looks at and documents the widespread transformation of play spaces in schools, kindergartens and public parks in Berlin, Germany.

The nine case studies focus on different themes that were important factors in the spaces’ successes. The themes are;

1. Choice2. Risk and Challenge3. Nature with a capital N4. Play Machines5. Sand6. Shade and Seating7. Topography8. Variety and Texture9. Water

For more information about what we do, and to view the other Case Studies, visit SmarterPlaces.org.

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