The Experimental Playground
Daubeney School, Hackney, London

A bold pattern of playground markings, a mound and look-out post, a steel mirror wall.
Stripes and spots of colour cover the surface of the playground, dividing up the space into bands which change the original orientation of the playground. A big zebra-crossing divides the playground in half and and rises up onto the large mound which becomes a look out post. The supporting wall at the end of the mound is clad in mirrored steel reflecting the zebra crossing. Painted pink paths link the nearby Hop garden to the rest of the playground.

A forest of poles
Running alongside the timber seat, a grid of poles creates a distinctive area within which all sorts of games and activities can take place. By hooking fabric screens between the poles the children can build dens and mazes. Some screens are opaque, others translucent, they create ‘rooms’ of different colours that can be added to and re-arranged. The screens can also create a roof over the whole structure so that it becomes a shelter. The poles themselves are substantial enough to play hide and seek around, nets can be stretched between them for different ball games, in the sunshine they create dramatic shadows along the ground.

Rotating platforms
A series of 12 platforms that are engineered to rotate easily but safely. Children working together can move them into various configurations, creating separate smaller ‘islands’ of different shapes. They can be positioned to make one large communal star, perfect for a whole class to sit together. The platforms are covered in a non-slip rubberised surface making them safe and comfortable to sit or lie on.

Moving islands
Seven stainless steel ‘islands’ are moveable planters that can be planted up by different groups at different times. The planting may be themed so that one year they are small fields of crops and another year they will be wildflower meadows. Or they can be grassy knolls for sitting on.

A large scale timber bench and storage.
A long timber seat marks the edge of the playground and is a place to have lunch and sit and watch. Within the seat there are storage areas for the Forest of Poles screens and teachers project materials.

Shelter with windows, steel mirror, lights in the floor, orange boulders
A dark space in the playground is transformed using light, steel mirror and windows. A long thin window has been cut out of the back wall of the shelter opening onto the infants area and thus connecting the playgrounds together. Because of the change in levels of the ground this window is at foot level on the infants side and at eye level on the juniors.
A grid of lights create a pattern in the floor which transplucent orange boulders can be rolled over. When a boulder sits over a ground light it glows. The boulders can be moved about by the children and they become as cars, sofas, dinosaur eggs....

The impact of the new playground is being monitored by a broad cross section of the school community within a framework that is being developed with the New Economics Foundation. This will include a means of disseminating findings to other schools and relevant organisations.