Urban Design

 

Playground Competition

 

John Leigh Park in London / UK

 

Our design for imaginative play equipment in John Leigh Park is based on the versatile potential of the space hopper. We propose to redefine the surface of part of the park using a landscape of space hoppers carefully manipulating the natural setting. This artificial landscape forms a dynamic, playful and safe environment for activities such as play, bounce, jump, roll and balance and also offers an opportunity for social interaction. The first construction phase will be to create a net of hopper connectors which will be populated with hoppers in phase two and fused together to form a continuous surface. Our field of hoppers will extend the fabric of the park as it articulates the gentle contours and carefully hugs existing trees and planting, embracing existing play equipment on the site such as the climbing frame. We envisage the artificial landscape to be set back from boundaries, paths and fencing in the park so that a continuous grass strip will surround the raised field of hoppers. Our design will be fully inclusive, accessible, stimulating and challenging to users of a young age and accessible to parents, guardians and visitors to the park.