Playground Design: Children’S Play Spaces in the City from the 1930S up to the Present Day
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Playground design: children’s play spaces in the city from the 1930s up to the present day Jaquelina Ângelo Sio Thesis to obtain the Master of Science Degree in Architecture Supervisor: Prof. Maria Alexandra de Lacerda Nave Alegre Examination Committee Chairperson: Prof.Teresa Frederica Tojal de Valsassina Heitor Supervisor: Prof. Maria Alexandra De Lacerda Nave Alegre Members of the Committee: Prof. Filipa Maria Salema Roseta Vaz Monteiro October 2018 Declaration I declare that this document is an original work of my own authorship and that it fulfils all the requirements of the Code of Conduct and Good Practices of the Universidade de Lisboa. Resumo Os parques infantis são espaços públicos determinantes no tecido urbano não só por serem lugares na cidade destinados às crianças, para atividade de brincar e de promoção do seu desenvolvimento, mas também pela sua capacidade de proporcionar vida pública e de estabelecer laços sociais nas comunidades onde se inserem. Contudo, por serem concebidos como estruturas efémeras sem pretensão de preservação, são suscetíveis de serem alterados ou esquecidos com o decorrer do tempo, com grande parte da sua história pouco documentada e o seu estudo ainda bastante subvalorizado. A presente dissertação analisa o desenvolvimento da conceção dos parques infantis com recurso a exemplos pioneiros de diferentes períodos, produzidos internacionalmente entre 1930 e 1980, apresentados em quatro narrativas distintas. Em paralelo, são abordadas intervenções recentes de sucesso concebidas pela firma de design Holandesa Carve, cujos espaços e experiências lúdicas que propõem evidenciam a importância e o potencial dos parques infantis para a vida da criança e para a vivência do espaço urbano. Com este objectivo, o estudo apresenta os princípios de conceção e decisões projetuais, em diferentes dimensões e em tempos distintos, procurando analisar as características espaciais e morfológicas do objeto de estudo; apresentar as circunstâncias, indivíduos e ideas por trás do seu desenho, bem como a sua relevância e contribuição para o contexto em que se inseriu. Por fim, consubstanciar conhecimento ao tema e contribuir para a documentação destes espaços, propondo uma leitura de soluções do passado e do presente que pode servir como referência para o futuro. Palavras chave: Parque infantil, Espaços infantis, Espaço público, Carve !i !ii Abstract Playgrounds are coveted and important public spaces in our urban fabric, not lone for providing a place for children’s play and development in the city, but also for being spaces capable of fostering public life and community activity. Yet, neither perceived as permanent structures nor designated for preservation, playgrounds often end up altered or lost in the course of time, with much of their history left unrecorded. The following thesis explores a part of the playground development and achievement by rediscovering the playgrounds emerged between the 1930s and the 1980s, tracing the various facets of its solution at different time and location through four major narratives. In a parallel manner, focus is given to the current strategies and interventions of success conceived by Dutch design firm Carve, which intricate and sensible design have demonstrated the significance of playgrounds and its potential to bring about substantial contribution to the children, society and city of today. The study aims to unfold the broad design choices and principles of past and present playgrounds, through analysing its spatial and morphological characteristics; tracking the circumstances, practitioners and visions behind its conception; understanding its relevance and contribution to the respective time and context; and examining the various roles taken up by playgrounds in the city at different times in different places. Ultimately, this work intends to give prominence to the subject matter and contribute to its research and documentation, establishing insights into past and present design solutions as a mean for future reference. Keywords: Playground design, Children’s architecture, Public play space, Carve !iii !iv Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to: Prof. Alexandra Alegre, who gave me guidance and encouragement throughout this dissertation, enthusiastically exchanging ideas and sharing her broad knowledge about children, architecture, education and life. I am truly grateful for your patience, dedication and appreciation. Prof. Teresa Heitor for the kindness and support on my educational and professional journey. All Professors who conferred my knowledge and assistance throughout my academic years. Colleagues from the scholarship office for sharing insights of life and inspiring energy, for the help and motivation throughout the writing of this thesis. Colleagues with whom I survived through countless groups works and study sessions, deadlines and all-nighters, building in the process, reliable and valuable friendships. Thank you for inspiring me to thrive for progress and further cultivating in me the enthusiasm for architecture. My friends, near or far, for the memories we share I keep dearly and have helped me go through thick and thin. Thank you for keeping our friendship strong and for always being there for me. My parents who gave me life, education and unconditional love and devotion. Thank you for the wonderful childhood I had and the caring and loving brother whom I spend it with. For believing in all that I am and all that I want to be. My brother whose kindness, perseverance and thirst for knowledge I look up to. Thank you for the countless meals, drive home from faculty at late evenings, lessons of life and of engineering as well, during the five years we lived in Lisbon, far away from home to pursue our education, but most importantly, for the endless support in every decision of my life. !v !vi Table of contents Resumo i Abstract iii Acknowledgements v Table of Content vii List of Graphical Elements ix Introduction 1 1 | Evolution of playground design 7 1.1 | Origins of playground design 7 1.2 | Developments of playground design since the 1930s 9 1.2.1 | Constructive and permissive play 9 1.2.2 | Domesticating Play 16 1.2.3 | Sculptural Play 26 1.2.4 | Continuous Play 34 2 | Contemporary playground design 47 2.1 | From the 1980s to the Present day 47 2.2 | Case Study: Carve 50 2.2.1 | Selection of case study: justification 50 2.2.2 | Selected works 52 Conclusion 73 Bibliography 77 !vii !viii List of Graphical Elements 1 | Early Sand Garden in Boston 8 In http://www.architekturfuerkinder.ch/index.php/geschichte/ueberblick-usa/ 2 | Rings and Poles, Bronx Park, New York, 1911 8 In http://www.architekturfuerkinder.ch/index.php/geschichte/1950er-jahre/ 3 | Junk playground in Emdrup, 1943 10 In BURKHALTER, G. (2016) The Playground Project, Zürich: JRP Ringier Kunstverlag. 184 4 | Children of various ages come together with a common goal of exploring the scattered 11 materials available at the junk playground in Emdrup, 1943 In LEDERMANN, A. and TRACHSEL, A. (1960) Creative Playgrounds and Recreation Centers. 2nd ed. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. 116-119. 5 | Cover of Clydesdale Road Playground Report for the year 1952 with photographs of before 12 and after intervention, London, 1952 In KOZLOVSKY, Roy. (2013) The Architectures of Childhood. Children, Modern Architecture and Reconstruction in Postwar England. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing. 64 6 | Cooking and gardening in Lollard adventure playground, London, 1955 13 In http://www.architekturfuerkinder.ch/index.php/pioniere/lady-allen-of-hurtwood/ 7 | Structure and foam pool at The Model, Stockholm, 1968 14 In LARSEN, L.B., BARTOMEU, M. and NIELSEN, P. (2010) Palle Nielsen, The Model-A Model for a Qualitative Society. Barcelona: MACBA. 2, 238 8 | Plan of The Model, Stockholm, 1968 15 In LARSEN, L.B., BARTOMEU, M. and NIELSEN, P. (2010) Palle Nielsen, The Model-A Model for a Qualitative Society. Barcelona: MACBA. 26-27 9 | Physical and sensorial experience at The Model, Stockholm, 1968 16 In LARSEN, L.B., BARTOMEU, M. and NIELSEN, P. (2010) Palle Nielsen, The Model-A Model for a Qualitative Society. Barcelona: MACBA. 6-7, 228-229 10| Axonometric sketch of the rooftop of the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille 17 In https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/views-on-le-corbusiers-unite-dhabitation/ 10008291.article 11 | Paddling pool below the crèche, play sculpture and niches on the South side of the roof; central 18 access area with ventilation shaft next to the crèche; roof terrace, gymnasium and ventilation shaft on the North side of the roof (Left to right, top to bottom) In http://www.architekturfuerkinder.ch/index.php/pioniere/le-corbusier/ In https://theartstack.com/artist/le-corbusier/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-marseille- kindergarten-on-the-roof-of-the-building 12 | Sketch section of Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier, 1945 19 In http://www.academia.edu/6856434/ALISON_and_PETER_SMITHSON_- The_Shifts_of_Ideas_from_the_Golden_Lane_Proposal_to_the_Robin_Hood_Gardens_1952- 1972 13 | “Streets-in-the-air” in Golden Lane project, 1953 19 In https://archiflux.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/ap-smithson-golden-lane-2/ 14 | Diagram of a cluster of “streets-in-the-air” 20 In https://archiflux.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/ap-smithson-golden-lane-2/ 15 | Typical deck plan of Golden Lane project, 1952 20 In In https://archiflux.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/ap-smithson-golden-lane-2/ 16 | Diagram of street indicating the zones of social contact, 1950-55 20 In SMITHSON, A. and SMITHSON, P. (2005) The Charged Void: Urbanism. New York: Monacelli Press. 23 17 | Detail plan of “basic unit”, and axonometric of yard-garden and kitchen at deck level, 1952 20 In https://archiflux.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/ap-smithson-golden-lane-2/ 18 | Amsterdam in Snow, photograph used in The Child in the City: the Problem of Lost Identity 21 grille, 1956 In http://blog.yalebooks.com/2015/01/16/sneak-peek-aldo-van-eyck/ !ix 19 | Map of Amsterdam with playgrounds by Aldo van Eyck, 1961 21 In LEFAIVRE, L.