Abstract:
Outdoor green spaces are necessary for cognitive development. Many
mentally challenged children in South Africa lack proper treatment
and access to green spaces, as well as basic social interaction. This
dissertation investigates why play in outdoor spaces is beneficial and
how this can be achieved through the basis of a playscape focusing on
development and therapy for mentally challenged and abled-bodied
children. The design solution also aims to uplift the community and
create safe spaces.
The main research question asks how a playscape can transform the
segregated, derelict areas in Westbury into spaces that encourage child
development. The hypothesis states that activity-orientated playground
design that recognizes the abilities of mentally challenged and
abled-bodied children, and provokes imagination, can create platforms
that remove social boundaries and aid in development. Furthermore,
naturalistic playground design can aid in solving the issue of boundary
within Westbury, while effectively defining open space and creating a
sense of place.
In order to test the hypothesis, pragmatic requirements for child
development were obtained through a literature review and by
conducting interviews with therapists dealing with mentally challenged
children. Case studies were consulted to understand the application in
design.
In conclusion, it is confirmed that naturalistic, activity-orientated
playground design can create platforms that remove social boundaries
and aid in development and therapy. By using archetypical landscape
elements that provoke the imagination, a multifaceted playscape can
be created. This dissertation in its design application demonstrates that
it is possible to use boundary to create safer, integrated spaces, while
effectively defining an open space. By this example a playscape and its
surrounding spaces can offer platforms for economic, social,
communal and environmental upliftment within Westbury.
