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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