Co-Creating our Playgrounds

Year | 2024

Location | Norfolk Park and Arbourthorne, Sheffield, UK

Clients | Seven Hills School

This Live Project partnered with the students of Seven Hills School, Sheffield, to reimagine their playground through a collaborative process that placed the children, many with special educational needs (SEN), at the centre of design. The project transformed an empty space into a playground that invites joy, activity, and choice.

Brief

A blank piece of paper is one of the most di cult places to start designing from it is much easier when you have something to build upon. The playground at Seven Hills School was like a blank piece of paper. Many students voiced their boredom with the space and their desire to create something new. To address this, Live Projects partnered with the school, adopting a collaborative approach that placed students—many with special educational needs (SEN)—at the heart of the design process. By giving them a platform to share their ideas, the project aimed to shape a space that fosters joy, activity, and choice.

Process

Over six weeks, the team engaged with a group known as ‘The Architectural Playmakers’ through a series of workshops, where they had the opportunity to learn about architectural principles and express their unique perspectives on play, which would ultimately shape their playground. These sessions, inspired by RIBA stages of work, explored architectural principles in a playful, inclusive manner. Workshops such as “Building Trust,” “Wildest Imagination,” and “Making it Spatial” encouraged students to think creatively, transitioning from 2D drawings to 3D models while learning about design. Through these activities, it became clear that the concept of play held different meanings for each student. Some preferred physical activities, while others enjoyed creativity or restful spaces. This led to the key design concept: “Play is a Choice.” The idea was that everyone should have the opportunity to engage in play that aligns with their personal interests and needs. Rather than presenting pre-designed equipment, the team encouraged students to create their own ideas using various prompts. This resulted in a playful, interactive, and co-produced playground design. Notable features included a “Wheel of Play” to suggest activities, floor paintings of a lazy river to animate the space, and themed zones such as “Hopscotch Island”, “The Beach,” and an obstacle course to reflect the diverse needs and interests of the students.

Future

The project culminated in a ‘Playground Kick-Off,’ celebrating the collaborative e ort and the progress made. More than just physical changes to the playground, the project provided the school with a vision for its outdoor spaces - one that incorporates the students’ wonderful ideas and serves as a foundation for future development. Additionally, a process zine was created, outlining the project’s methodology and offering the school the tools to continue developing its spaces and allow students to shape their environment further.

“The space is now beautiful, awesome and amazing!.”

The Architectural Playmakers, Seven Hills School

“It has been a privilege to work with this team and an experience that our students will never forget.”

Harry Gordon, Teacher, Seven Hills School

Credits

Student Team: 

Elizabeth Acland, Esme Allen, Phoebe Bix, Paaraj Keyurbhai Desai, Anna Elcock, Ruomeng Li, Maura Mcgrath, Dylan Meaghan, Molly Neale, Caitlin Pugh, Hannah Wolowacz and Elyza Yunus.

Mentor:

Cith Skelcher