Category Archives: Public Space

Playground Ideas – Building Playgrounds In Developing Countries

Playground Ideas’ first playground in Chiang Dao, Thailand. Image Credit: Marcus Veerman, www.architectureau.com

Check out the article “Playground Ideas” on ArchitectureAU

Since 2010, Marcus Veerman and his not-for-profit organization Playground Ideas has been helping build playgrounds in developing countries.

“Play is important in the developing world because schools often have few resources … In many schools playgrounds are considered unaffordable. We’re working with communities to create sustainable, affordable solutions to change the culture of education and the design of schools to become more focused on children’s need to play.”

http://www.architectureau.com/articles/playground-ideas/

Click on the Image or one of the links above to read the article on ArchitectureAU by Vanessa Murray.

Further reading:
www.playgroundideas.org

Rockaway Call for Ideas – Occupy the Dune, Balmori Associates

In an effort to foster creative debate on urban recovery in New York after Hurricane Sandy, MoMA PS1 and MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design have asked for ideas to create a sustainable waterfront in Rockaway. Ideas were submitted in the format of a short video no longer than three minutes.

The aim was to hear ideas for alternative housing models, creation of social spaces, urban interventions, new uses of public space, the rebuilding of the boardwalk, protection of the shoreline, and actions to engage local communities.

Rockaway – MoMA PS1

Occupy the Dune, Balmori Associates

Balmori Associates suggests creating and occupying sand dunes. Ultimately the dunes will help fortify the city from natural disasters such as large storms. The design uses natural processes to build the dunes. Public space is created on the less sensitive land. The public space is programmable and adaptive to different uses.

Ashar Macha (Platform of Hope)

Creating Public Green Space on a Lake in One of the World’s Densest Slums

Korail, with a population of 120,000, is the largest slum in Dhaka, a city of 15 million and the capital of Bangladesh. Korail is surrounded by a growing wealthy neighborhood and a lake, increasing density precludes public space. In response to these conditions the Platform of Hope (Ashar Macha) was first proposed in 2007 by landscape architect Khondaker Hasibul Kabir of BRAC University. New to the area, Kabir moved in with family of Fourkan Pervez . Together they transformed the home into a lush community garden.

Platform of Hope, built over Gulshan Lake, with Dhaka in the background. Image credit: Cooper-Hewitt

Ashar Macha (Platform of Hope) by Kabir at Korail Bosti, a Documentary by Quamr ul Hasan – A little initiative can bring about such a change to people particularly to a family and children in a so called “slum” in karail, dhaka, bangladesh.

Landscape Architecture for Humanity

A Philanthropic and Without Borders Hub Specific to Landscape Architecture