Context

Proludic designed and installed a fully inclusive play space for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in Norfolk that provides a welcoming space for children in its care to enjoy, whilst offering respite and bonding opportunities for parents and carers.

Challenge

Asked to create a safe, accessible and contemporary environment at the Nook, Proludic worked closely with the client to ensure the play area met the diverse needs of children, so a range of disabilities and life-limiting conditions were catered for.

The play area was built on sloping ground and required extensive grading to create terraced levels, allowing easy access for all children while creating a colourful and visually-inspiring space.

Solution

Play equipment

The design features carefully selected play equipment, including an inclusive wheelchair seesaw (J987), wheelchair swing (R49-IPY-1611), pod swing (J496), inclusive roundabout (J2409) and wobbly mirror (J3428). These elements ensure that children with a variety of disabilities and illnesses can enjoy the space and access a diverse range of equipment that will repeatedly stimulate them. Additionally, a variety of sensory equipment such as chimes (both at floor and waist level) and drums and are placed throughout to reinforce the sensory experience.

Surfacing

The inclusive play area features a colourful wetpour-designed surfacing featuring vibrant geometric shapes to provide a visually-stimulating sensory experience and safe environment for all children. This surfacing not only enhances the playful atmosphere but also offers a smooth, cushioned surface, ensuring accessibility and safety for those with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities. It also provides a safer surface for the staff members to undertake occupational therapy sessions with both the in and outpatients under the Nook’s care.

Sensory path

To enhance the sensory experience, Proludic added a resin-bound sensory path curling down from the hospice’s sun terrace to one of two entrances, making the playground easily accessible to wheelchair users while improving safety for those with mobility impairments. This focal technicolour path is lined with local animal-themed geo-cache hiding spots, as well as multicoloured box archways that create playful shadows, adding further interactive elements to the space.

Result

Feedback about the inclusive play space at The Nook has been overwhelmingly positive, with children loving their new space and parents and caregivers enjoying the bonding moments and memory-making opportunities the playground offers.