Challenge

Following the successful completion of a large playground project for Dulwich Prep school in Cranbrook, Kent, Baylis Landscapes (Learning Through Play) was invited to the main Dulwich Prep school in London to help redevelop their early years playground.

Consultation with the Head of School, Bursar and the early years teachers highlighted:

  • the need for a larger area for all year round play
  • enough space for PE lessons
  • reduced interaction between different types of play to avoid collisions
  • improved boundary security

Although this was the client's brief, from Baylis' perspective as the designer, the company also wanted to make best use of the existing play ship and introduce a theme to complement it.

Solution

Each of the issues were addressed in Baylis' design to create a clear play structure by separating out different zones for different types of play. By doing this it is a lot clearer for children to recognise how they should be playing in each zone, but it also reduces the interaction between different types of play.

The sports stadium is the designated area for football, whilst the cycle track is the space for cycling trikes, and the garden is the area to sit and read.

The benefit of designing in this way is to allows children to enter into the theme of each area and encourages imaginative play.

The issue of space was addressed in the design of the Adventure Island. This area was previously an open area of natural grass which was wet and muddy for many months of the year. Baylis opened this space up by laying an all-weather surface which increased the useable area by at least 30%. The island theme also allowed the existing ship to be incorporate into the design by removing the timber fence that was around it and linking it to the surface of the island. The result was a ship at anchor off shore.

The area for PE became a sticking issue in the design but Baylis overcame this through further consultation with the school and the resulting area of artificial grass in the middle of the cycle track provided a perfect space for lessons.

Upgrading the boundary fences increased the security for the school as well as the overall appearance of the area.

Client feedback

A very positive response was received from the children and the school. The Head of school stated: “What a transformation the new playground has made to the Early Years pupils! It has been so wonderful to watch the children explore all of the new opportunities for play and to use their own creativity to make things their own, to suit their own style of play."

"Baylis (Learning through Play) demonstrated that they understand children’s play and have designed a wonderful playground for us. At all stages of planning, installation and aftercare we have found Baylis Landscapes ( learning through Play) to be incredibly efficient, helpful and thorough”.