CLIENT BRIEF -(Goals, Ambitions & Starting Point)
Following on from the tremendous success of our previous projects completed in conjunction with Lancashire County Council, Pendlewood were delighted to be awarded the winning tender contract for the refurbishment and playground transformation of Stoneyholme Community Primary School. This was in order to bring the play area up to the very high standards of the rest of the school to reflect the creativity and quality of the educational facilities offered by the school.
The opening project discussions began with an essential and unique part of the brief which was to create a play and learning environment that challenges the stereotypical ideas of a school playground that radiates fun, adventure and oozes enormous wow factor to stimulate and empower the staff and pupils to experience the best possible outdoor experiences for a unique journey of learning.
Other important criteria discussed together in the initial meeting was:
To include a fun storage solution that is in keeping with the play area theme and feel; yet functions well to store possible play and teaching items for outdoor use and also incorporate a quiet area/shaded seating area for lessons outside where pupils can interact, learn and develop in a unique exciting environment.
EXISTING FACILITIES
The play area was typical of many schools with a large expanse of tarmac and dominated by a large concrete wall that was simply functional and dreary. There was also a small area of grass that suffered from over use and bad drainage.
this is what we dreamed up....
DISCUSSION IDEAS
We dare to dream where others have not gone before and so we wanted to create a maximum impact play area to make the client and the school children stand back in awe in anticipation to play and learn. So we dreamed up a unique Striking Galleon Play Ship to allow children to escape to the high seas and discover new mystical lands where imagination stimulates the children’s minds and the play features enhance fitness through enchanted activity play. We also wanted to push the boundaries of exploration and have energized full fun discovery to install a hunger for learning through play; so we developed several innovative bespoke play features on the pirate ship to encapsulate the feeling of voyaging and running a real Galleon ship out at sea.
For the surrounding flooring area, we used bright and stimulating Blue Sea and Golden Yellow Beach Softplay colours. These were designed and laid to replicate the various organic shapes, meandering curves and lines of the ocean and beach front to ignite and dazzle children during play where they can also discover various other hidden treasures of the caribbean terrain. Such discoveries include a Jungle Beach Hut that is shaded outdoors for teaching as a learning area for pupils. The hut is detailed with handmade imitation bamboo roofing for an authentic tropical feel to relax and enthuse in an environment where pupils will thrive to learn from a unique learning experience.
Another hidden treasure is the Bespoke Mini Golf course that was designed with the help of the client and the schools pupils to have their own creative stamp and design input to include an active play game that is different and generates enthusiasm and interest for a rivetting inclusion to the educational curriculum that improves eye hand co-ordination skills, concentration and balance that may possibly produce the next Tiger Woods!
Pushing the boundaries and providing innovative ideas to benefit and encourage child self development is at the forefront of our design ethics and we strive to turn imagination into reality and this is exactly what we did with the transformation of the tired and dreary concrete wall. An inclusion of a physically challenging Traverse Wall that enhances fitness and requires children to problem solve, experriment and tackle the different hand grip shapes, textures and challenges to improve a variety of motor skills. Pupils can then continue the playground adventure by scaling the surrounding cliffs or skillfully climb a ravine pass; depending where the children’s imagination takes them and of course where the treasure is!
Locating and hunting for the treasure chests that contain the horded untold objects of fun and rewards (only the keepers “teachers” know) that are situated around the island amongst the wood crafted palm trees and even wild tropical animal sculptures is not going to be easy because we have included a challenging Obstacle Course that allows children to roam the pirate lands in search of a pirates ultimate reward.
Handcrafted from FSC sustainably produced Redwood timber, treated with Tanalith ‘E’ the eco-friendly timber preservative. Creating a low maintenance, heavy-duty, long-life discovery experience designed specifically for your early years pupils.
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