Term 2 project brief: Calthorpe Playlab Themes: In term one, I looked into the process of learning and playing. The product was the PlayLab – an adapted playground typology that integrates learning and play as twin processes of development. For the second term, I wanted to further push the status and role of play in society. Hence the Calthorpe project. The project situates play amongst other activities and sectors of society, investigating the extent of autonomy that we can permit children. Children are treated as 'active participants' of the learning process, learning but also instructing ideas of innovation and creativity. Secondary users - adults, parents, the public also partake in a 'constructivist' learning evolution from children. In particular, the potential and creativity of children is harvested, and they become treated not as unknowing recipients of knowledge, but also as active contributors of innovation.
Site: The project is sited in Calthorpe Project, a green oasis in Kings Cross. Currently, activities there include allotment planting, adult classes, children classes. The strategy is to maintain the site's current program, including the futsal field etc.
Spaces: Playground: Play encourages a full frontal bodily interaction with materials. A greenhouse and allotment area: Children can modify the designs of the existing greenhouse on site, gradually replacing the ‘adult’ design with their own. Kitchen: Children can operate concurrently alongside adults. Mobile kitchen units allow them to move cooking outdoors. Café: A completely self-sufficient café, where food is cooked from locally grown vegetables. Adults eat alongside the ‘paper’ activities of children. The café is located amongst paper pavilions of children. Adults seat themselves on recycled cardboard furniture. The café is integrated with the paper aspect of the playground. Work areas/Presentation Area: Children can present their findings, products, organise exhibitions with a modular space system. Futsal Field – Existing on Site: The futsal field, besides hosting football, is treated as a playground and open area involving sports. Children are invited to kick balls into clay, forming patterns…. The façade of the field is a frame containing clay and paper. Every time the ball gets out, it leaves a mark on the façade. Sorting Area: The sorting area collects items that the public deposits for children to play with. This area is first screened for hazardous material, then released, eventually landing in a clay pool or paper wall. Study Spaces, computer clusters
Materials: Materials used are building on the vocabulary of the other items in term 1, including Clay, Paper, Wood and steel. Adding further to this list is soil, plastic, vegetation, fallen leaves. The ready made materials such as pegs, hooks, nails would also be used extensively.
Hypothesis: 1- The Architecture of the Playlab facilitates Intuitive Self-Exploration by Generation Z through Learning and Interpretation The spaces are should be organised in legible intervals between ‘Didactic and Instructive spaces’ and ‘Intepretation Spaces’. 2- In addition to playing and learning, GenZ are entrusted to operate ‘adult domains’, including the Kitchen, Material Storage and the Greenhouse. Basic Functional space are ‘enhanced’ to highlight the main principles involved. 3- Adults are permitted to learn from the innovativ e capacities of children. Adults should react to the innovations of children, showcasing their inventions to encourage discussions. A provision would be made in the Playlab to permit adults to further prototype or even manufacture children designs. 4 - Children should be empowered to change their surroundings Based on their innovations, the architecture should permit children to replace 'standard adult' architectural details. For example, in the greenhouse, their innovations in paper or plastic materials could achieve light or insulation properties similar to the glass or polycarbonate elements. The architecture would allow for 'standard details' to be removed and for children's inventions to be used. 5 - The Playlab should enhance understanding of environmental and immaterial conditions for Generation Z. Sensors are employed in the architecture. Based on fluctuations in temperature, moisture levels, the architecture should respond and indicate levels accordingly, to amplify and redirect the effects of weather. 6- The Playlab should create a mini society where different ages of Generation Z can interact and be self sufficient. The architecture carefully consider details such as specifically designed parapets, levels, steps to cater for different age groups. These specific routes are then strategically placed to encourage interactions.