EARTHSCAPE
Who Is Earthscape? Earthscape is North America’s leader in the renaissance of custom playgrounds, incorporating natural materials, creative site-based design, and the highest quality construction. Inspired by children and play around the world, we are passionate about building serious fun. We design playgrounds that stimulate children’s imaginations, offer physical challenge and beneficial risk, and foster social interaction and creative play. Our early work began with a focus on natural playgrounds for local schools and child care centres, but quickly evolved into the creation of epic, bespoke playscapes. Our design team and workshop is located in Wallenstein, Ontario, Canada; a second design office is in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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EARTHSCAPE
Collaboration Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We work alongside Landscape Architects, municipalities, cities, and developers to bring brilliant playground ideas to life. The goal is to create awe-inspiring play spaces that engage and delight every visitor, young and old. The design approach can build upon your ideas and concepts or can begin from scratch. Using techniques and training from landscape architecture and industrial design, we consider play value and beauty from the scope of the entire site down to the smallest details. Outstanding play spaces are where children thrive; where imaginations run wild; where bodies and brains are engaged. They are places of stimulation, socialization, excitement, joy, and wonder. They create and build community. To begin your playground design-build process, please reach out to us at info@earthscapeplay.com.
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The Earthscape team is using their outdoor voice today in an actual meeting with the client. As much as we’d love it, not all meetings happen this way.
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Table of Contents THOUGHTS ON PLAY
Grange Park
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Story Mill Community Park
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Harvest Green
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Sugar Beet Park
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Storytelling 10
Hoyt-Sullivan Park
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Timber Grove 138
Sustainability 12
Humbertown Park
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Washington Park
142
Unprescribed Play
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John Ball Zoo
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Willie “Woo Woo” Wong
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Inclusivity & Accessibility
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Johnston-McVay Park
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Post-Occupancy Evaluation
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Paul Coffey Park
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Pine Cove 80
PROJECTS
Ralph Klein Park
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11 Hoyt 22
Rise Park
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Aldergrove Credit Union Community Complex
River Park
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Redwood Grove 88
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Riverside Park
104
Amira 30
Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre
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Bluestem Park
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Sawmill Lake Club
112
Branksome Hall
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Scissortail Park
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Bridgeland Dragonfly Park
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Sir Wilfrid Laurier
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City Park
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St. James Park
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CASE STUDIES Georgetown Day School
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St. Pete Pier
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Wanuskewin Heritage Park
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THOUGHTS ON PLAY
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Storytelling Design always tells a story. It speaks of needs, desires, ideas, work, hands and minds, technology and philosophy. Playground design does the same. Standard plastic-and-metal post-and-
Sometimes, storytelling in Earthscape
deck playgrounds that are found in every
playgrounds takes the shape of direct
municipal playground or schoolyard tell
representations. Native birds that
their story: one of concerns over safety
frequent neighbouring forests might
and fears of litigation, and freedom
become large, scalable play structures.
translated into risk management.
Such sites often include interpretive
If we want different stories—ones that are complex, hopeful, joyful, and inclusive—we need to make different decisions when it comes to how playgrounds are designed and built.
signs that speak to visitors about native habitats and their residents. In other cases, stories are abstract. Ideas are hinted at in the shape of cladding or through colour. The tall walls of a playground tower are built to resemble the flow of grasses.
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A geometrical sculpture is revealed,
Of course, storytelling does not begin in
from a particular vantage point, to echo
design offices. Stories from communities
the shape of mountains on the horizon;
direct ideas and iterations. Such is the
alternatively, it might bring to mind the
case of the Willie “Woo Woo” Wong
angular rocks that slice through nearby
playground in San Francisco, California,
streams and rapids. On this sculpture,
where the classic Chinese folk story
the bodies of moving children become,
pairing, the dragon and the phoenix, was
like the water over the rocks, part of
suggested by the residents and visitors
the stories being told or created.
of the surrounding Chinatown and now rests in the finished playscape.
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Sustainability As playground design-builders, we think about kids a lot. What kind of world are we building for them? Wood is more than an aesthetic
Wood allows us to think through our
business relationships with our North
preference or a business decision.
responsibilities with respect to climate
American wood suppliers. Earthscape
At Earthscape, wood is a corporate
change. Wood is renewable, recyclable,
timber is graded in accordance with
philosophy and an ethical commitment.
and has a low carbon footprint and
standards established by the Canadian
As our primary material for playgrounds,
embodied energy. Using wood for
Lumber Standards Accreditation
we value it for its beauty and
playgrounds reduces the carbon footprint
Board and the National Lumber
versatility. It creates an embodied
both in terms of carbon storage and by
Grading Authority. Earthscape is a
dialogue between playground creators
avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. As
member of the Canadian Wood Council
(designers, engineers, and carpenters)
compared to the production of a plastic
and sources much of its timber from
and end-users (children, families,
or metal playground, wood processing
Canada. Canada’s timber harvesting
and communities). Designs speak
uses far less fossil fuel energy.
laws are among the strictest in the
of the deep affinity for wood’s depth, warmth, and even its ability to age, thus remaining true to the complexities of life.
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Our commitment to sustainability extends to all parts of the business. This means that we maintain close
world, ensuring that sustainable forest management practices are followed across the country.
Earthscape has committed to planting a minimum of one tree for every tree used in our production process, through local reforestation initiatives and in partnership with One Tree Planted, a global reforestation non-profit.
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Unprescribed Play There is defiance in unprescribed play. It rejects pre-determined ways to be, to play, and to move. In play, a slide is not defined by
where they make the rules. Predictability
manufacturing standards, a U-shape,
is not all that fun! Adventure is found in
or a sit-down bar. A slide is a feeling—
the unusual and the unknown.
a sensation in your belly. A child’s arms are holding on and then letting go. Arms rise up, contact is precarious, and movement may be rapid. There is a feeling of surrendering to gravity, to friction, and to excitement. It is a moment of suspension before wanting to climb back up to go again and again!
to write a rulebook. If a child looks at any playground and immediately “gets it”, then it is probably too directive. It may quickly become boring. If a playground has something that is maybe a bit odd or unpredictable, then maybe the play space has created an affordance for
Playgrounds should be places where
open-ended free play. That is where
children create their own stories: where
kids thrive: in the freedom of non-
they decide where to go and how to play
prescriptive play.
in, around, over, and on a structure—
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As playground designers, our job is not
Open-ended and non-prescriptive play is play without interference: an antidote to stress and sameness and a place to practice self-sufficiency. It is a place to dream or a place to make or encourage a new friend. Giving children the freedom to explore and interpret their environment on their own terms builds resilience as they gain confidence with making decisions, communicating imaginative stories, or overcoming physical challenges.
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Inclusivity & Accessibility When it comes to play, no single design solution exists to meet the variety of different abilities and styles. Accessibility requirements are a
play spaces. For example, the principle
When imagining playgrounds as
minimum standard from which to work
recommending “minimal physical effort”
inclusive spaces, we consider not only
for more accessible and inclusive
conflicts with children’s desires to
building for the richness of experiences
playgrounds. While existing directives
experience challenging spaces.
focus on a particular range of disabilities, experience and research tell us that persons living with various disabilities have a vast and often dissimilar range of needs and desires. Working toward meeting the spectrum of those needs necessitates a design commitment to inclusivity.
pieces of equipment that can “solve” accessibility and move toward engaging deeply and situationally, within a particular space and community, to see what inclusivity means. In doing so, we work together-with our clients, with children and their families, wider
While principles of universal design,
communities, and advocates-through
developed for the built environment,
careful and creative ideas about the
provide useful guidance for architects
inclusivity of play beyond legislative
of public spaces, some of them remain
requirements.
counter to the purpose of outdoor 16
We must move beyond imagining
which could delight children with different disabilities, but also think about opportunities for peers of different abilities to play side-by-side. We think about encounters that could be challenging and enticing for older children (a factor particularly important for families with children in different age groups). We think about spaces which offer parents and guardians chances to either comfortably participate in play, or rest amidst playing children.
The commitment to inclusivity permeates all aspects of our work, including the process of design. Here, we remember that before we can speak through the design solutions we put forward, we must listen–both carefully and attentively-to the ideas coming from others. Voices must come from all corners and sides of the diverse communities we work within.
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Post-Occupancy Evaluation Recently, play has become a more integral part of large public development projects, and playgrounds are no longer relegated to rectangular boxes in corners. Unique play elements or playable public
Materials and details are evaluated for
of the POE program is not to determine
art are increasingly seen as nuclei that
performance. Traditional playground
the ‘right’ way to play (the existence
activate spaces. With the addition of
POEs tend to focus on physical activities
of which we unreservedly deny), but
new types of play spaces, we ask: What
or, more generally, child development
rather to reflect upon and capture the
play designs are truly successful? How
standards by counting and quantifying.
richness of play experiences. This is not a
might such success be measured? And how might we use such evaluations in future play projects? To help us think through these questions, Earthscape has developed a new post-occupancy evaluation program (POE). POEs aimed at assessing and documenting the performance and impact of built projects are familiar to Landscape Architects. Our program includes research into equipment functionality and is used to assess 18 maintenance and longevity.
We believe that play asks us to think beyond standardized measurements and look for stories and experiences, moments and journeys that come not only from children, but from and for wider communities. The Earthscape POE program assesses how a playground design supports various types of play and inclusive interactions, focusing on both the ‘childscale’ efforts of playground analysis and adult/family-led activities. The goal
comparative program; we are not looking to find how one playground is better than another. Instead, we focus on the relationships unfolding in each space so that the analysis of those observations can inform future design decisions. Our commitment to consistently partake in a POE program also speaks to a particular culture: a culture of paying attention to users and of never forgetting that the design is not for the satisfaction of its creator, but for those using it.
The POE program is a responsive dialogue with the client and, to some extent, with the past–the decisions made, the solutions chosen–so that we can gather information for the future. It is used to make the next step. It does not rely on blind design intuition, but on experiences shared with us. So, while the practice of POE is a business decision that stems from commitment to quality assurance, it is equally an ethical obligation that is rooted in the vision for a practice that commits to building a better shared world.
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PROJECTS
EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / 11 HOY T
11 Hoyt BROOKLYN, NEW YORK // COLLABORATION WITH HOLLANDER DESIGN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
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Hexagonal stacked climbers of varying size create organic circuits within the playground and between the sculptures. The designers created links for circulation play to maximize the limited space of the playground. As a result, this compact playground packs in tons of accessible play opportunities.
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PROJECTS / 11 HOY T
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EARTHSCAPE
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LANGLEY, BC // COLLABORATION WITH VAN DER ZALM + ASSOCIATES INC.
PROJECTS / ALDERGROVE CREDIT UNION COMMUNIT Y COMPLEX
Aldergrove Credit Union Community Complex
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Three inter-connected towers draw children to heights where they can experience stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
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PROJECTS / ALDERGROVE CREDIT UNION COMMUNIT Y COMPLEX
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EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / AMIRA
Amira TOMBALL, TX // COLLABORATION WITH KUDELA AND WEINHEIMER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
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Opportunities for active play have been intricately layered into the horse’s form. The swoop of the tail net offers a challenging ascent into the main body. Climbing holds, ropes, and sling seats pepper the outside and underbelly, and a stainless steel slide swoops from her shoulder.
PROJECTS / AMIRA
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / B L U E S T E M PA R K
Bluestem Park FORT WORTH, TX // COLLABORATION WITH STUDIO OUTSIDE
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P R O J E C T S / B L U E S T E M PA R K
The scissor-tailed flycatcher carries a unique nickname: Texas bird-of-paradise. The bird is a speedy flyer with complex feathering and a burst of bright colours hidden on the underside of its wings.
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EARTHSCAPE
Branksome Hall TORONTO, ON
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The Branksome towers take design inspiration from a modernist cabin in the woods. Intended to feel like a tree house, the cabin-like towers are nestled high among the surrounding forest of mature deciduous trees. Children climb various access nets to get a true birdseye-view of the stunning Branksome Hall school grounds.
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PROJECTS / BRANKSOME HALL
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EARTHSCAPE
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CYPRESS, TX // COLLABORATION WITH CLARK CONDON
P R O J E C T S / B R I D G E L A N D D R A G O N F LY PA R K
Bridgeland Dragonfly Park
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The central feature of this playground is an enormous dragonfly sculpture that stretches 10.5 metres (34 feet) across its wing span. The dragonfly’s body is a combination of chainsaw carved oak and sculptural form and cladding. The four wings each offer different play and climbing opportunities. The dragonfly sits among additional playable elements that reflect the ecosystem of a dragonfly, including tall grasses and plants.
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P R O J E C T S / B R I D G E L A N D D R A G O N F LY PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / C I T Y PA R K
City Park DENVER, CO // COLLABORATION WITH MUNDUS BISHOP DESIGN INC.
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A previous medieval inspired playground was the driving architectural theme for the revitalized playground. The request: a full-size dragon, playable on the inside and out; packed with play opportunities for a wide range of age and abilities.
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P R O J E C T S / C I T Y PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / G R A N G E PA R K
Grange Park TORONTO, ON // COLLABORATION WITH PFS STUDIO AND THINC DESIGN
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In homage to the neighbouring AGO, the playground represents multiple elements of an artist’s studio. The north playground features climbing structures that represent a spilled paint can and crumpled paper. The south playground, in an equal state of disarray, offers a colourful, elevated artist’s palette alongside a charcoal pencil tower and a climbable sculpture resembling a squished paint tube.
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P R O J E C T S / G R A N G E PA R K
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P R O J E C T S / G R A N G E PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / HARVEST GREEN
Harvest Green RICHMOND, TX // COLLABORATION WITH SWA GROUP
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Play options inside the barn are varied; adventurous children can climb up the barn ladders, crawl among spider webs, hide out with friends behind hay bales, hang out in suspended seats, or weave through the rope chaos. To add to the playground theme, large wood chainsaw carvings of hay bales and a tipped wheelbarrow add whimsy, fun, and additional play pieces to climb and conquer!
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PROJECTS / HARVEST GREEN
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EARTHSCAPE
Hoyt-Sullivan Park SOMVERVILLE, MA // COLLABORATION WITH KLOPFER MARTIN DESIGN GROUP
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The design of the Hoyt-Sullivan park playground came in response to the community’s request for a natural play space in the densely populated and ethnically diverse City of Somerville on the north side of Boston. Featuring several multi-level play elements, including an accessible tower and a complex Log Jam®, the playground design maximizes topographical changes to challenge and inspire children in their play.
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P R O J E C T S / H O Y T - S U L L I V A N PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
Humbertown Park TORONTO, ON // COLLABORATION WITH SEFERIAN DESIGN GROUP
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P R O J E C T S / H U M B E R T O W N PA R K
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The playground’s focal point is the connected towers that, from some vantage points, appear as mirror images of each other. The towers are jam-packed with interior play opportunities and options for entry and exit. Children can climb from one tower to the other at different heights and on different materials via angled ropes and stainless steel bars.
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P R O J E C T S / H U M B E R T O W N PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R OJ E C TS / J O H N BA L L ZO O
John Ball Zoo GRAND RAPIDS, MI // COLLABORATION WITH VIRIDIS DESIGN GROUP
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P R OJ E C TS / J O H N BA L L ZO O
Along with the tower, the natural log climbers provide graduated challenge for explorers to test their boundaries. These climbers combine nets, ropes, stump steppers, and angled decks to provide play circuits that cater to all ages and abilities.
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / J O H N S T O N - M C V AY PA R K
Johnston-McVay Park WESTERVILLE, OH // COLLABORATION WITH POD DESIGN
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“Rooted in Nature” is the theme for Johnston-McVay Park. Designed to depict local stories, it creates a unique recreational experience for the park’s diverse users and reflects the site’s natural richness.
P R O J E C T S / J O H N S T O N - M C V AY PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / PA U L C O F F E Y PA R K
Paul Coffey Park MISSISSAUGA, ON // COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF MISSISSAUGA
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This large, whimsical structure has strategically placed openings and windows for open sight lines and to allow the castle to be accessible through multiple points of entry and exit. The transparency of the structure is inviting for children of all ages to explore the inner courtyard, traverse up the multiple levels of the towers, and engage their sense of adventure, imagination, and fantasy.
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P R O J E C T S / PA U L C O F F E Y PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
Pine Cove KLEIN, TEXAS // COLLABORATION WITH FOUR & ONE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
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PROJECTS / PINE COVE
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PROJECTS / PINE COVE
The towers have exceptionally high play value and feature interior play opportunities with nets, sling seats, and ropes to allow climbing opportunities or simply provide space to hang out with friends.
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / R A L P H K L E I N PA R K
Ralph Klein Park CALGARY, AB // COLLABORATION WITH GROUND CUBED AND WILCO SW
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The playground represents three different zones of the local watershed: the mountains and glaciers, the foothills, and the prairies.
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P R O J E C T S / R A L P H K L E I N PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / REDWOOD GROVE
Redwood Grove SAN FRANCISCO, CA // COLLABORATION WITH CMG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
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The Redwood Grove playground includes boulders to scramble up and down, log steppers for hopping, and a wide embankment slide for adventures closer to ground level. Seating and hammocks around the site are great places to observe, lounge, or cloud-watch.
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PROJECTS / REDWOOD GROVE
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / R I S E PA R K
Rise Park IRVINE, CA // COLLABORATION WITH BRIGHT VIEW DESIGN GROUP
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P R O J E C T S / R I S E PA R K
The two large Warblers are connected by a Log Jam®. Perched on a hill, younger children can explore and hide away inside the bird house. An oversized warbler feather lies on the hill among log steppers with special etched carvings of bird foot prints.
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / R I V E R PA R K
River Park BRECKENRIDGE, CO // COLLABORATION WITH DTJ DESIGN
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This nature-based playground pays homage to the surrounding mountains, meadows, and river. The two timber ice towers at the center of the playground feature angular rooflines and abstract cladding to emulate mountain peaks. The towers and logs are stained with complementary colours to match the snow, sky, and ice of the Rocky Mountains.
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P R O J E C T S / R I V E R PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / PROJECT TITLE
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / R I V E R S I D E PA R K
Riverside Park GUELPH, ON // COLLABORATION WITH MHBC PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN & LANDSCAPE
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Riverside Park is a landmark urban space in the City of Guelph, hosting large city-wide events throughout the year. Inspiration for this themed destination playground was taken from the adjacent Speed River. The playground has a unique personality and showstopping playable sculptures that have quickly become iconic play features for Guelph children.
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P R O J E C T S / R I V E R S I D E PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre
HAMILTON, ON // COLLABORATION WITH VERTECHS DESIGN AND PCL
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P R OJ E C T S / R O N J OYC E C H I L D R E N ’ S H E A LT H C E N T R E
The multi-level playground at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre was designed with input from over 20 doctors, accessibility consultants, and therapists who work with children receiving treatment and therapy at the center. The custom accessible playground was designed as a part of the rehabilitation and therapy program for children with a wide spectrum of disabilities. It is themed to represent the City of Hamilton including its iconic bridges, steel mills, and the colourful autumn trees of Cootes Paradise.
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EARTHSCAPE
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PROJECTS / S AWMILL L AKE CLUB
Sawmill Lake Club HOUSTON, TX // COLLABORATION WITH TBG PARTNERS
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Otis Redding’s classic hit, Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay, inspired this lakehousethemed community gathering space. The playground’s focal points are three large and distinctive treehouse towers. A high level of attention to detail ensured that the materials and colours blend with the rest of the site elements. The playscape brings whimsy and magic and offers exhilarating height and faraway views.
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PROJECTS / S AWMILL L AKE CLUB
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / S C I S S O R T A I L PA R K
Scissortail Park
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK // COLLABORATION WITH HARGREAVES JONES
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EARTHSCAPE
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The trees, shrubs, and grasses throughout Scissortail Park are primarily native species, so it was natural that local wildlife inspired the playscape. The wolf spider is a show-stopping playable sculpture as it is posed to creep up to a pile of twigs.
P R O J E C T S / S C I S S O R T A I L PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
EDMONTON, AB // COLLABORATION WITH WILCO NORTHWEST
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The one-of-a-kind howling coyote is a unique sculptural play piece to represent the prevalent predator in the River Valley. The design of the coyote maximizes play value in a relatively small footprint. Children can explore the inside of the canine as well as crawl and climb up multiple routes on the exterior of the sculpture.
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PROJECTS / SIR WILFRID L AURIER
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / S T . J A M E S PA R K
St. James Park
TORONTO, ON // COLLABORATION WITH PMA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS LTD.
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The play sculptures and structures integrate nature and natural materials to represent the physical space of a historic market as well as playful food elements available for sale. Food market stalls and over-sized stacked wooden fruit and vegetable crates are the landmark playground features.
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P R O J E C T S / S T . J A M E S PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / S T O R Y M I L L PA R K
Story Mill Community Park BOZEMAN, MT // COLLABORATION WITH DESIGN WORKSHOP AND DESIGN 5 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
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The design is a journey through the landscapes of Montana, from farms and agriculture to rocky terrain and forested wilderness. 132
P R O J E C T S / S T O R Y M I L L PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / S U G A R B E E T PA R K
Sugar Beet Park
FORT COLLINS, CO // COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
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Sugar Beet Park is central to three neighborhoods where, in the early 1800s, employees of the Great Western Sugar Factory lived and worked. The factory played a huge role in the development of industry in the city. The playground design is a playful take on the history of the site, the focal point of which is the colourful giant sugar beet climber.
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P R O J E C T S / S U G A R B E E T PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
Timber Grove
KATY, TX // COLLABORATION WITH SWA GROUP – HOUSTON
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The central playground tower has three routes of access from ground level. It has an interior climbing net, as well as a flexform chimney system that leads children to climb up to a 10-foot open slide with views to the pond. Natural wood playground elements complement the tower and add to the nature play and living water themes.
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PROJECTS / TIMBER GROVE
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EARTHSCAPE
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P R O J E C T S / W A S H I N G T O N PA R K
Washington Park DENVER, CO // COLLABORATION WITH STREAM DESIGN
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Washington Park has long been a treasured urban green space south of Downtown Denver that is sometimes compared to Central Park in New York City. Situated between two lakes and along busy bike trail paths, the destination playground offers adventurous and inspiring natural play. 144
P R O J E C T S / W A S H I N G T O N PA R K
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EARTHSCAPE
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA // COLLABORATION WITH CMG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
P R O J E C T S / W I L L I E “ W O O W O O ” W O N G P L AY G R O U N D
Willie “Woo Woo” Wong
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P R O J E C T S / W I L L I E “ W O O W O O ” W O N G P L AY G R O U N D
The dragon and phoenix are a classic Chinese folk pairing. On this multi-tiered playground, a huge, playable water dragon sculpture wraps itself around a two-level tower and slide.
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CASE STUDIES
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EARTHSCAPE
CASE STUDY
Georgetown Day School WASHINGTON, DC // COLLABORATION WITH LEMON BROOKE AND GDS
The narrative of the Georgetown Day School (GDS) playground design takes its cue from the school mascot, The Grasshopper, and has a strong focus on the concept of biophilia: the love of nature.
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C A S E S T U D I E S / G E O R G E T O W N D AY S C H O O L
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C A S E S T U D I E S / G E O R G E T O W N D AY S C H O O L
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C A S E S T U D I E S / G E O R G E T O W N D AY S C H O O L
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In the mid-Atlantic coastal forest, the
A rock outcrop, like those found along
Deeper into the woodland, intersecting
mighty trunks of the oaks, pines, and
the Potomac River, overlooks a bramble
tree branches reach high into the sky,
catalpas stretch high into the air. As a
of logs and twigs on a grassy hillside.
criss-crossing in the junior play tower.
result, these giants offer magnificent
A grasshopper nestled among blades of
views to the critters and creatures that
grass observes the excitement around it.
C A S E S T U D I E S / G E O R G E T O W N D AY S C H O O L
From the perspective of a tiny grasshopper, the forest floor is a richly complex micro-world that invites exploration and discovery.
call the forest home.
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The playground at GDS fosters an environment of wonderment, imagination, and creativity as well as a deep-rooted connection to nature. Most importantly, the complexity of the play pieces in this design reinforces the capacities that the school strives to teach every student. Consequently, the unpredictability and challenge presented in the playground engage cognitive function that provides opportunities for creative thinking and risk assessment. Accordingly, every play piece at GDS includes these challenges to give students the freedom to make choices during play. They can push their boundaries, take risks, learn from failure, and build their confidence—all valuable lessons that they will carry into adulthood. 160
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PROCESS
Concept Sketch
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3D Model
C A S E S T U D I E S / G E O R G E T O W N D AY S C H O O L
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EARTHSCAPE
CASE STUDY
St. Pete Pier ST. PETERSBURG, FL // COLLABORATION WITH W ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The Glazer Family Playground at the St. Pete Pier is a one-of-a-kind, marine-themed play space. It is natural and non-prescriptive, engaging all ages and abilities in unique and creative play.
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The marine theme reflects the context of the Pier in Tampa Bay and local coastal creatures. The playground story began with the question: “What would newly hatched baby sea turtles see as they move from sand to sea?” In the Senior Play Area, the theme is played out with multiple large structures. The most obvious is the large red Kraken sea monster, which is emerging from the waters among the seaweed tower. The head and three uniquely shaped, stretching tentacles each have different play affordances; play can happen over, under, and inside of the sea monster. Details, like the pink, dimpled climbing holds, add to the story by resembling octopus tentacle suckers. 168
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A circular osprey’s nest log climber is perched by the water’s edge but shaded by the grand oak trees that were preserved in the Pier’s renovation. A lifeguard tower perched upon a hill overlooks the playground and is filled with rope chaos. A half-sunken shipwreck inspires imaginative play and is a great spot for hide-and-seek.
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The Junior Play Area is focused on the beach. An overturned sand bucket left by a sand castle builder sits beside a curious yellow starfish. A small hill slide with a driftwood log is left from a turtle’s nest. Baby turtles, carved entirely with a chainsaw from an old oak tree, are making their way to the water.
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A system of paths and gathering spaces links these spaces together, creating a hub of activity for visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy. The Glazer Family playground at the St. Pete Pier™ is a reflection of the City in concept and design intent, and the focus on natural and non-prescriptive play engages kids (and adults!) in a unique and creative way as part of this incredible new placemaking development. The Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments in St. Petersburg, Florida, reviewed and gave feedback as the playground design evolved to ensure an inclusive design for people with disabilities.
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PROCESS
Concept Sketch 174 174
CASE STUDIES / ST. PETE PIER
CAD plan
3D Model
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EARTHSCAPE
CASE STUDY
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
SASKATOON, SK // COLLABORATION WITH CROSBY HANNA & ASSOCIATES
Wanuskewin’s playground is a microcosm of this unique and culturally significant gathering space that many indigenous nations have used for living, hunting, and spiritual practice for more than 6,000 years.
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CASE STUDIES / WANUSKEWIN
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is a Canadian National Historic Site and cultural centre near Saskatoon. At least 70 different Nations have continuously lived or passed through this land for more than 6,000 years. Not all of those Nations exist anymore; however, there are still many for whom Wanuskewin is a sacred and meaningful space. Structures are highly open-ended, but could be interpreted to reflect things such as a bison’s hump. Glacial rock tumbles are part of the story, as the land was scraped by glaciers, leaving rocks behind in their path. How it’s used is open to the imagination.
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Archeological and inherited resources
gathering areas are interspersed within
on the site are reflected in the
the playground. Tower structures allow
playground, such as in a buffalo
the children to overlook the river valley
rubbing stone—a tall piece of granite
to view the bison herds that have been
that has been made smooth by the
returned to the site.
bison rubbing up against it over the years. That rock is part of the story of the landscape, as are the beaver dams in the natural area.
Designing the playscape involved listening and learning about creation, the relationship of certain numbers to the stages of life, and the importance of
The playground is designed to be
the land and creatures. The decision-
remarkable and a destination, but
making process was very fluid. Stories
not so imposing that it detracts from
were shared that required contemplation;
the natural environment. The play
absorbing layers of stories helped the
elements reflect the landscape and
design to evolve.
allow for a depth of learning. School groups can find and enjoy spaces in the playground where classes could meet for storytelling and where interpreters could further explain the site. Miniature
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Wanuskewin means “seeking peace of mind” in the Cree language.
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The importance of storytelling and building relationships is woven throughout the playspace.
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PROCESS
Early Sketch
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Concept Sketch
Detailed Render
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Wallenstein, ON, Canada
earthscapeplay.com
519.804.6854 info@earthscapeplay.com
