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I am intrigued by child play areas. As a child, I was left to roam the fields (within reason), fall over, get stung by nettles and bugs, climb trees and fall out of them too. This has left me with a sense of creative exploration in everything I do.. “oh, what’s that? How does that work? Can I eat it? It’s the basis of calculated judgement.

Not every child has this invaluable experience, but I believe they should! I’ve discovered that playgrounds tend to be simple: slide, swing, and a fort. Made with the single thought process of “What do we think the child wants?”. But this may not be the best approach. Children love to explore & discover, to go to lands far, far away. They learn far better through play; a study concluded that, in fact, learning through play was the best approach to increasing the children’s skills. (1)

The team and Wearthy with Landscape Architect Dan Rimes has managed to capture the element of play, exploration, narrative in what is a beautiful well designed space alongside highlighting and appreciating the natural beauty.

This design creates a safe setting where kids can roam and become lost in enigmatic worlds. They can learn calculated risk while learning to get their hands dirty and become entire beings because they are part of nature, the plants.

Wearthy has a single design concept for most of their gardens; here, it is a beehive, and another is a nest. They ensure that any trees or statement plants are maintained in the area to help with the sustainability and integrity of the natural environment (3). It is not just about the design but the social needs of the community the space sits in, the fundamental values and needs of the children and families using it, and the genius loci of the space.

Wearthy is built on the belief that every child has the right to play and develop a sense of belonging. They believe in a universal humanity where children can feel optimistic about the future – a future that is theirs and to which they can contribute (2)

Wearthy has the child at the centre of their design, making virtual models and adjusting minute details to ensure the space works cohesively. For example, the look at the sun’s cycles; if the glare is too much in one part of the garden, they adapt the design accordingly to ensure the children are safe throughout the hottest times of the day.

I believe it has a holistic approach to design; every piece is essential, and they impart their passion in every detail and every element.

This space doesn’t stop at its boundaries. It is also used a spring board for lessons to teach further. When we have an emotional link with something we have a much higher likelihood of remembering something associated with it (4). The narrative that is created by the cultural components forges a bond with the community this enhancing credibility for ti company and the design. This rich, colourful, and captivating playscape, created to be a haven, gives kids a sense of security and worth in the wild. In my opinion this is a purposeful design.

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References
1) Teaching-and-learning-reading-through-play.pdf (researchgate.net)

2) (17) Wearthy: Overview | LinkedIn

3) Wearthy Playgrounds — Wearthy | The playful beginnings of human flourishing.

4) Long Term Memory (Free Test + Examples) – YouTube