One aspect of the proposed ‘Olympic Games Legacy’ was the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – divided into a North and South Park. PLAYLINK was invited to be part of a bidding consortium led by the New York based James Corner Field Operations, designers of the rightly acclaimed New York High Line. The bid for the South Park…
Flying Fortress Park is a newly created open space within a housing development and regeneration area, currently of around 7,500 homes and increasing. At the point PLAYLINK was commissioned, in July 2013, the open space could be described as ‘flat, windy and raw’ with few features and little or no natural shade. This will change over time as the planting…
The site within the wider Inwood Park was a disused, traditional paddling pool that had fallen into disuse. In this commission – to create a water play area – we were clear that we wanted to create a range of play opportunities, certainly with water as a major feature, but within a setting that was welcoming to family groups, that…
A real challenge: a mean, cramped space bounded by wall and fencing, the only bit of outside available to this nursery. Even we gave in to the practical need for artificial turf – usually anathema to us – balanced, we hope, by planting along the walls. We created a softer, sensory, manipulable and aesthetically pleasing environment. Nearly all features bespoke.…
This scheme worked as a three way collaboration with the residents association, the local play association (PATH) and ourselves. The Design Brief we formulated and was agreed states at the outset the overarching aim. To create an attractive, playable communal space in the area around the Hut that will be inviting to children, teenagers and adults. In other words, we…
The Carville Hall Park South commission, about £325,000, included major works to the park as a whole, including draining and dredging the lake and rescuing terrapins that had taken up lodging there. Creation of a ball court was part of the commission to create a playable park. What is highlighted in the photos that follow are the relatively low key,…