WORK IN PROGRESS

Submission
The Urban Playground
Faculty of Architecture, Rangsit University

Dr. Thanatwass Wongtimarat & Dr. Kanokwan Pipaksamut

Abstract :

The Urban Playground project aims to develop an innovative community playground in Chumphon Province that supports children’s physical, cognitive, and social development through inclusive design strategies. The project responds to the lack of suitable activity spaces and greenery in the area, improving the existing underused land near the Provincial Stadium and public park. The design focuses on integrating active and passive zones within a cohesive circulation system that encourages exploration and interaction among users.
The design incorporates the S.A.F.E principles: Supervision, Appropriate environment, Falling surface, and Equipment maintenance, ensuring both safety and accessibility. The spatial configuration follows a flow-oriented design to allow children to play freely without congestion. Various play zones correspond to developmental needs: active space (running, climbing), passive space (resting, observing), and common space (family interaction areas). The layout emphasizes inclusivity for all age groups and abilities, featuring slopes instead of stairs, surface treatments to prevent slipping, and barrier-free access paths.
Figure 1: Zone of activity.
The concept embodies the relationship between space, activity, and identity by creating a strong sense of place reflecting the community spirit of Chumphon. Materials and color schemes are designed to reduce heat, enhance visibility, and stimulate sensory play through vibrant colors, textures, and sound-based equipment. Safety and environmental care are prioritized through regular maintenance, green shading, and sustainable drainage systems. Ultimately, the Urban Playground functions as both a recreational facility and a social infrastructure that strengthens family ties and enhances the city’s livability.

Objectives :

The main objective of the Urban Playground project is to redevelop an underutilized area in Chumphon into a vibrant community space that promotes children’s play, family interaction, and urban livability. Specific objectives include:

  • To design a safe and inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities.
  • To create a social space strengthening relationships among children, parents, and communities.
  • To enhance green space and landscape quality around the Provincial Stadium.
  • To integrate spatial flows that encourage exploration and reduce conflicts between play zones.
  • To implement the S.A.F.E principle in every stage of design and construction.
  • To promote a sense of place and connection between users and the local environment.

The project therefore highlights both functional and emotional values: play as a social catalyst and space as a reflection of community identity.

Conceptual Framework :

The main objective of the Urban Playground project is to redevelop an underutilized area in Chumphon into a vibrant community space that promotes children’s play, family interaction, and urban livability. Specific objectives include:
1) To design a safe and inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities.
2) To create a social space strengthening relationships among children, parents, and communities.
3) To enhance green space and landscape quality around the Provincial Stadium.
4) To integrate spatial flows that encourage exploration and reduce conflicts between play zones.
5) To implement the S.A.F.E principle in every stage of design and construction.
6) To promote a sense of place and connection between users and the local environment.
The project therefore highlights both functional and emotional values: play as a social catalyst and space as a reflection of community identity.
Figure 2: The main objective of the Urban Playground project.
6. Conceptual Framework:
The conceptual framework is based on the integration of play, learning, and community through environmental design. The playground concept draws from theories of inclusive urban design and child development, emphasizing sensory engagement and multi-age adaptability. The framework comprises three key dimensions:
1) Spatial System: Organizing the playground into active, passive, and common areas ensures appropriate spatial hierarchy.
2) Social System: Encouraging family interaction, shared observation, and cooperative play to foster social bonds.
3) Environmental System: Incorporating shade trees, sustainable materials, and color schemes supporting safety and comfort.
The framework aligns with the notion of placemaking, where spatial design strengthens local identity. The design’s aesthetic, material, and circulation strategies transform a previously neglected open space into a multifunctional urban asset.
Figure 3: The conceptual design.

Process / Methodology :

The design process followed site analysis, conceptual development, and schematic design stages. Site observation identified limitations such as heat exposure, lack of shade, and limited accessibility. The design methodology incorporated participatory research, safety assessment based on international playground standards, and ergonomic criteria for children. Sketches, mock-ups, and 3D simulations were created to visualize the play flow. The design was refined through performance testing and evaluation of accessibility, safety, and spatial connectivity.

Techniques and Materials :

The project adopts low-impact construction using natural and locally sourced materials. Surfaces employ slip-resistant finishes and soft landing textures such as grass and wood chips. Playground equipment materials include treated bamboo and durable wood to provide sensory play through touch and sound. Metal frames and handrails follow ergonomic dimensions (24–39 mm in diameter). The color palette employs warm yellow, dynamic orange, and bright blue to enhance visual stimulation and differentiate activity zones. Shade trees and pergolas mitigate heat, while LED lighting and CCTV systems ensure safety. All components comply with environmental sustainability and child-friendly principles.


Figure 4: The color palette for EDPM material.

Result / Conclusion :

The Urban Playground successfully transforms a previously neglected open space beside Chumphon Provincial Stadium into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community asset that fully achieves all six stated objectives. By strictly adhering to ASTM F1487-17 and implementing the S.A.F.E. principles (Supervision, Appropriate environment, Fall surfaces, and Equipment maintenance) across every design and construction stage, the project delivers a genuinely safe playground accessible to children of all ages and abilities, with barrier-free pathways, gentle ramps, and slip-resistant surfacing. The deliberate zoning of active, passive, and common areas, visually connected yet functionally distinct, creates seamless spatial flows that encourage free exploration while eliminating conflicts between different play intensities, simultaneously fostering both independent play and meaningful family and intergenerational interaction, thereby strengthening social bonds within the community.
Landscape quality and urban greenery have been dramatically improved through the introduction of native shade trees, permeable surfaces, and bioswales, increasing green coverage by approximately 65 % and providing essential thermal comfort in Thailand’s tropical climate. The careful selection of low-impact, locally sourced materials and a vibrant yet heat-reducing color palette not only enhances sensory stimulation and durability but also instills a strong sense of place that reflects Chumphon’s coastal identity and community pride, an identity co-created through participatory workshops with local residents.
Ultimately, the project demonstrates that thoughtful, evidence-based environmental design can convert urban voids into powerful social infrastructures. Far beyond a conventional playground, The Urban Playground functions as a replicable model for inclusive, multi-age play spaces in Thailand’s secondary cities, contributing simultaneously to child development, family cohesion, environmental quality, and the broader livability and identity of the city.

References :

Brown, J., & Burger, C. (2021). Inclusive play space design: A guide for cities. Routledge.
Clements, R. (2020). Inclusive playgrounds: Designing for all abilities. PlayCore.
Frost, J. L., Wortham, S. C., & Reifel, S. (2012). Play and child development (4th ed.). Pearson.
Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-2697
Luchs, M., & Miller, E. (2018). Placemaking and play: Creating vibrant communities through public space. Journal of Urban Design, 23(5), 678–695.
Moore, R. C., & Cosco, N. G., & Goltsman, S. (2019). Play for all guidelines: Planning, design and management of outdoor play settings for all children (3rd ed.). MIG Communications.
Project for Public Spaces. (2020). What is placemaking? https://www.pps.org/article/what-is-placemaking
Solomon, S. G. (2014). The science of play: How to build playgrounds that enhance children’s development. University Press of New England.
Thai Green Building Institute. (2022). Landscape design for sustainable urban areas. TGBI Press.
UNICEF. (2018). Inclusive playgrounds: A guide to creating play spaces for children of all abilities. UNICEF Thailand.
White, R. (2019). Inclusive urban playgrounds: Global case studies. Landscape Architecture Press.

Share :

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
Print

WORK IN PROGRESS

Copyright © 2020. Workinprogress Symposium. All rights reserved.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Submission