Want to design a playground?
MANILA, Philippines - Here’s a contest that requires participants to think like a child.
Play Universal, an organization that promotes the value of play in child development, is holding a Play Space Design Challenge as part of Play Pilipinas 2011, the first international conference on play to be held from October 21 to 23 at the SMX Convention Center.
The Play Space Design Challenge is open to everyone with a streak for creativity and play innovation — whether one is a student or a professional. Simply form a group of three participants and design a 100-sqm. play space, indoor or outdoor, that can be built with a budget of P50,000. The play space design should incorporate easy-to-find items that don’t require rigorous installation. It is highly recommended to use materials that are local, sustainable and recycled.
The competition is intended to search for groundbreaking, imaginative and efficient solutions for future play spaces. Play Pilipinas conference director Sigrid Perez says they are looking for works that shine with creativity, innovation and social meaning. “Most Filipino communities don’t have the benefit of properly designed play spaces for children. Isn’t it about time to do something about this? As communities become more dense, we are seeing fewer spaces where children can freely explore and build their imagination.”
To join, interested parties may submit a fully accomplished registration form that can be downloaded from the Play Pilipinas website (playpilipinas.org). Design entries should come with initial drawings and a concept paper that explains the design and inspiration in less than a thousand words. Deadline for submission is August 15.
The works will be judged by a team of experts which includes the International Play Association’s Hitoshi Shimamura, noted furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue and renowned architect Marcus Veerman of goplayproject.
Shimamura is a much sought-after lecturer on the value of play for children as the regional vice president for East Asia of the International Play Association. His official job title is “play worker” and over the last 15 years, he has been supervising a number of adventure playgrounds in and around Tokyo. Last year, he established Tokyo Play, a regional organization for play campaign and policy recommendation.
Cobonpue is a leading industrial designer known globally for his signature designs that incorporate rattan, buri, bamboo, and abaca. Recently, his Bloom Easy Armchair received the Prix E’excellence Coup de Coeur while his Lolah Easy Armchair bagged the Outstanding Quality and Design Innovation Award at Decorex London.
Veerman is a teacher and counselor who specializes in experiential education and mentoring. He has also worked with teenagers through the Australian non-profit group Hands on Learning to build classrooms and furniture for local schools and communities. In the past two years, he has been stationed in Thailand where he is building and overseeing the construction of 45 playgrounds while actively encouraging others to do the same.
The top 30 entries will be selected and made to undergo a Play Space Design Workshop under Jon Racek, an American architect who used to head an award-winning architecture and design firm. He also founded and ran an educational outreach program in the inner city Los Angeles area.
In the workshop with Racek, the proposals will be fleshed out and the teams will be allowed to fine tune their designs before the final selection. Six of the best designs will be mounted for public exhibition during the conference, where the final judging will take place. There will be three winners: Gold, silver, and bronze winners will receive trophies and cash prizes of P50,000, P25,000, and P10,000 respectively.
For complete contest details, log on to playpilipinas.org.
