7 minute read
UK’s first special Cruyff Court
UK’S FIRST SPECIAL CRUYFF COURT OPENS
The Brief Dorothy Goodman Academy provides education and support to children aged 3-19 years. The pupils have a wide variety of special educational needs and disabilities, including profound and multiple learning disabilities, severe learning difficulties and Autism. Some pupils also have social, emotional and mental health issues associated with their learning difficulties.
Following the completion of their new secondary school building, the school wanted to improve the outdoor play provision with a new multi-use games area (MUGA), creating a variety of play opportunities whilst catering for all abilities.
Design Sutcliffe Play were approached to supply and install a Special Cruyff Court, having been the official delivery partner of Cruyff Courts for The Johan Cruyff Foundation* for over seven years, supplying special needs projects across Europe. This court was the first one to be installed in the UK.
Special Cruyff Courts, supplied by the Johan Cruyff Foundation (a charity which supports and develops sports opportunities for children worldwide), are a modern interpretation of the traditional playing field or MUGA, ideal for healthcare centres, special schools and rehabilitation centres for children with disabilities. Designed to be as accessible as possible to young people with disabilities, the Cruyff Court enables children to actively participate in sports on the field or to experience sports and games through a more passive form.
The ballcourt was primarily funded by the Johan Cruyff Foundation and their UK charity partner, the People’s Postcode Lottery.
In anticipation of the opening, the school displayed photos documenting the progress of the project and pupils created a handprint mural, pledging to follow the 14 rules of using a Cruyff Court – established in honour of the Cruyff Foundation founders’ football shirt number #14.
Following months of hard work seeing the project through to completion, in January 2020, Sutcliffe Play was delighted to be invited to the official opening of this first Special Cruyff Court in the UK.
Feedback “Working in partnership with the Johan Cruyff Foundation and Sutcliffe Play, we are proud to have the first Special Court in the UK at our school. This specially designed games area supports our pupils in their development of physical, social and team working skills through active and inclusive games. After watching it develop, the pupils are extremely delighted to have a specialist area that they can use.” Janet Thompson - Headteacher at Dorothy Goodman School
Acoustic Arts make outdoor musical instruments and sound sculptures suitable for permanent installation in gardens, parks and playgrounds. After working with the National Trust, RHS and other environmental organisations, we have developed a range of instruments that combine gentle, harmonious sounds with elegant, organic forms that fit perfectly in natural landscapes. The instruments are hand built using sustainably sourced English Larch, stainless steel and other durable materials.
See our website for a full range of products as well as examples of recent bespoke projects. contact: www.acousticarts.org.uk info@acousticarts.org.uk 0117 935 2034.
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Flat pack for quick, easy assembly on site.
(028) 7772 2201 info@timbertots.co.uk www.timbertots.co.uk
HOW SUSTAINABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY IS SHAPING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND THE STREET FURNITURE WITHIN IT
Around 72% of the EU population lives in urban areas (1) . Cities and towns throughout Europe are evolving and growing at an incredible rate. As a result, a new and more developed model of sustainability is required. One which saves energy, protects the environment and increases citizens’ wellbeing.
So how are new sustainable policies going to shape the urban environment of the future? And how will these influence street furniture design and application?
Experts believe one of the biggest impacts on street furniture as part of such sustainability transformations, is the adoption of technology. This involves revolutionising street furniture away from a single purpose to a multi-purpose entity. For example, a street bin will not only function as a bin but also as an audio reference point for partially sighted people, a WiFi hub spot and even has the functionality to let the operators know when it is reaching full capacity.
The future of street furniture
Street furniture plays a crucial role in towns and cities, to provide residents with a sense of wellbeing and fulfilment. To support community wellbeing, city planners and landscape architects are ever evolving the role of digital technology within their street furniture designs. For example, the rapid adoption of smart phones will result in users being able to interact with various street furniture structures. and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Cycling schemes are a popular addition to many towns and cities across the world, particularly as urban spaces are being designed more for pedestrians rather than motor vehicles.
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