Viva Brighton Issue #66 August 2018

DESIGN
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with the natural environment, to exploit the
great outdoors and the site’s far-reaching views.
The iconic centrepiece is an acorn-shaped play
tower that Chris conceived of, inspired by play
features in a botanical garden in Canberra, Australia.
A giant swing, dragon’s head, sound play
and public art by Keith Pettit combine to appeal
to our natural curiosity.
“The whole concept was aimed at children playing
with the natural elements of sand and hills,”
says Chris Collyer, a Director of the project’s
manufacturer and installer Playsafe Playgrounds.
“It was always going to be a bit of landmark for
the area.”
The playground is constructed from FSCcertified
Hungarian Robinia, a fast-growing
hardwood that has weathered to an appealing
silver. Mounds, sandpits, sensory planting and
willow dens divide the space. It’s a far cry from
the austere public parks I remember in the
eighties. I wonder whether we provide today’s
children with a little too much?
“We spend a lot of money on facilities,” explains
Bibb. “A good skate park costs about £200,000
- and you think ‘well, I never had that when I
grew up,’ but actually, there’s probably 1,000
people going to it a week, and if it’s built right
then it’s going to be used in 30-50 years, so
actually that’s a really good investment.”
“As much as a load of scaffold tubes put together
may be enticing to some kids,” adds Collyer, “if
you give them a starting point to use their imagination,
it’s just going to take off from there…
I think the playground is even better than we
perceived it would be. It looks good, it looks
cool, there’s stuff to do, places to hide, it’s natural
and it works.”
“It’s about making the adventure experience,”
says Bibb, “not just having the traditional playground
where you have few opportunities for
play and activity”. Even simple things like little
sculptures of animals encourage new interactions,
he says. “Let your imagination do the
adventuring.” Chloë King
Piddinghoe Ave, Peacehaven, BN10 8RH.
bigparksproject.org.uk
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