While we're on the subject of interior playscapes: Chicago-based Design Play Studio used a system of balls and loops to facilitate fort-building at an exhibit for the Chicago Children's Museum in 2009.
This is a definite upgrade from the piles of books I used to hold down the sheets I draped over the couch and table as a child.
I point this out because one of the (many) things I'd like to see change about public playgrounds is the feeling that they are static and fixed.
Adding loose parts helps, but in a way they just serve to point out the inadequacy of what is already there; as in "we-just-spent-$50,000-on-a-playground-and-now-we-need-something-else???"
Why not plan to make the playground itself more adaptable, more fluid? Why not make it easy to, say, drape the playground with fabric for forts?
UPDATE: the good folks at the Chicago Children's Museum have let me know that credit for this exhibit is also due to their in-house design team, who developed the ball and loop system by prototyping and testing it with museum visitors.
Well how cool is that - simple yet inventive! Love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT Idea! Daycares could be doing this, sometimes the simplest things can add so much!
ReplyDeleteGreat! My girls request so many times that we build them tents or they try themselfs... this system could just be about the best solution! I think this could be great even for privat houses.
ReplyDeleteThe FORTS experience was developed and designed by Chicago Children's Museum's (CCM) in-house exhibit team in 2009. CCM's concept was based on children's universal need and desire to create their own special places -- a theme which crosses age, gender, time and culture.
ReplyDeleteThe "ball and loop" system, as simple as it appears now,was refined through prototyping by our exhibit team at the museum with our young visitors. The goal of the ball and loop system was, in part, to increase children's success and confidence, and sense of ownership in their work.
The reference to upside down chairs, doors, bedposts, and the use of bed sheets, blankets and shower curtains, was to remind caregivers that they could do this, too, in their own home or daycare center.
While watching their children in the FORTS experience, adults relaxed on sofas and shared their own childhood memories about building forts and making secret places.
Recently, the Jordan Children's Museum in Amman was thrilled to present the FORTS exhibit to their young guests, reiterating what a universal childhood theme building secret places really is.
(Per playscapes original post: A DesignPlay Studio designer was contracted by CCM to work with our inhouse experience development team to provide exhibit design services.)