Valanko ni Ramat by Hsc Designs: A ‘playscape’ made out of recycled materials

Landscape, Online Exclusive Feature / 2024

Valanko ni Ramat by Hsc Designs: A ‘playscape’ made out of recycled materials

October 11, 2024

This playground was designed by Hsc Designs for one of Gujarat’s oldest and most popular schools, based on a child’s perspective of finding playfulness in everyday objects. Tying in with the school’s Montessori-based learning philosophy, the design has the larger aim of teaching life skills, promoting independence, fostering curiosity and building the spirit of adventure.

The facility comprises five play pits with a water zone, sand zone, and a jungle gym with climbing, swinging and sliding spaces, culminating into a colourful tunnel space. This tunnel was built using recycled concrete pipes—obtained from leftover gutters—and decorated with mosaics made from spare tiles. In addition, recycled mild steel rods, wooden logs from fallen trees and salvaged tire tubes have been used in the construction.

The jungle gym has been designed based on children’s anthropometry. By using thin mild steel sections for the curves, as opposed to the thick ones commonly found in jungle gyms, the design makes it easier for little children to climb and hold on to them.

The play pits offer a stimulating sensory experience, equipped with windchimes, an echo chamber and green spouts that serve as a water shower, spraying a fine mist to offer relief from the summer heat. One of the spaces also serves as an outdoor classroom, where children can sit under the shade of the trees on wooden stubs, promoting learning through play.

These wooden stubs from old trees have been created in collaboration with the kids from the school, who painted them with colourful designs. This exercise fosters the children’s self expression and a sense of belonging towards the school facility.


PROJECT DATA

Project Name   
Valanko ni Ramat (Play of Curves)

Location            
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Completion Date           
March 2024

Site Area           
5,000 square feet

Client/Owner   
Abhay Mangaldas

Architecture Firm          
Hsc Designs

Principal Architect         
Hiloni Sutaria

Landscape Architect      
Hsc Designs

Images/Photos
Ravi Mistry


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