Client: The Royal Parks Agency
Title: Princess Diana, Memorial Playground
Location: London, UK
Description: Mention - Civic Trust Awards 2002
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2002
At the north-west corner of London’s Hyde Park lies one of the most popular attractions; a new commemorative playground designed for children of all ages and abilities. Based upon J M Barries classic ‘Peter Pan’, the experiences reinterpret those of Peter, Wendy and the boys in a contemporary and engaging way.
Secreted under a soft landscaped earth mound, the playground centre reflects Barries description of the ‘home under the ground’. It consists of one large ‘rough and ready’ space as all houses should do’ under a shallow domed shell structure of reinforced lightweight concrete supporting a green roof above. The design which was developed using complex computer modelling, has been carefully planned and elevated to suit use by all children and adults.
Reflecting the home as a safe haven, child height figures of Pirates and Indians have been etched into the outside doors casting shadows into the interior space.
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