For a long time, designers have the tendency to design building and spaces for children from an adult’s perspective without much questioning, and we have often neglected to ask the actual users, children, if this is what they really want?

Since the end of 2016 to 2018, Groundwork has been commissioned by the Architectural Services Department of Hong Kong to research and produce a design guideline on the future planning of children’s public playground facilities in Hong Kong. Within these 18 months of study, we have not only carried out on-site research and analysis on existing successful examples of local and international playgrounds, but also hosted participatory design sessions and used strategic questions to obtain various user experiences and suggestions on playground design through interviews.

From 2016 to 2018, Groundwork was commissioned by the Hong Kong government to draft the guideline for the public playgrounds in Hong Kong. Within these 24 months of study, we have carried out on-site research on existing successful local and international playgrounds, and have involved the public participating at our workshops so that we may extract their opinions on their ideal playgrounds directly. From our research, we have learned that: 1) Children make friends easily at public playgrounds. 2) Children prefer natural materials over colourful synthetic materials at playgrounds. 3) Children enjoys exploration and face challenges. 4) Children are emotionally attached with spaces that inspires them 5) Children require opportunities to play alone. 6) Children loves the natural environments – sunlight and shadows, wind, rain and earth.

▼室内空间概览 overall view of the interior space©存在建筑 arch-exist

A kindergarten is a place where a person initially joins a social environment and becomes a member of society. It is the place where children begin to learn to get along with one another, learn about discipline, etiquette, build a collective consciousness, and develop their sense of self awareness.

▼分解轴测图 exploded axonometric ©元新建城