BIG IDEAS : BUILDING-SCALE DESIGNING FOR FAMILIES Maya – Age 8 Visions of a fun place to play! Presentation by: THE PLAY COLLECTIVE
Skill-Testing Question: How are Babies Made? Downtown West Population Growth ENTERTAINMENT 2001 to 2016 DISTRICT NIAGARA KING WEST CITYPLACE FORT YORK Age 2001 2016 Net % Group Change Change Total 16,290 73,584 +57,294 +352% 20-39 yrs 8,820 50,330 +41,510 +471% 0-4 yrs 645 2,450 +1,805 +280%
City of Toronto – 2017 Growing Up Guidelines: Planning for Children in New Vertical Communities toronto.ca/growingupto
Feedback from Parents/Families living in condos:
"Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can "Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people.“ successful city for all people.“ Enrique Peñalosa, Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogatá, Colombia former Mayor of Bogatá, Colombia
Cities are where over 50% of our children grow up, Cities are where over 50% of our children grow up, and play is fundamental to how children learn and play is fundamental to how children learn and grow into capable, confident, creative and and grow into capable, confident, creative and caring adults. caring adults. So building a successful city for children means So building a successful city for children means the city must be a great place to PLAY . the city must be a great place to PLAY .
But the type of play increasingly offered in our 21 st But the type of play increasingly offered in our 21 st century cities today is not necessarily the type of century cities today is not necessarily the type of play that our children need (or even want). play that our children need (or even want). Whereas play by its nature should be as free , Whereas play by its nature should be as free , unstructured , imaginative , self-challenging , fun unstructured , imaginative , self-challenging , fun and spontaneous as possible… and spontaneous as possible…
Instead, play is increasingly relegated to carefully Instead, play is increasingly relegated to carefully curated & fenced playgrounds designed by adults, curated & fenced playgrounds designed by adults, neatly separated from other uses, full of ‘safe’ neatly separated from other uses, full of ‘safe’ playground equipment, installed on ‘safe’ rubber playground equipment, installed on ‘safe’ rubber surfaces, often devoid of complexity, thrill and surfaces, often devoid of complexity, thrill and imaginative elements needed for real play, and imaginative elements needed for real play, and worryingly disconnected from nature. worryingly disconnected from nature.
RISK AND DANGER are apparently everywhere now. Lawyers and insurance companies seem to have taken over community and public spaces… even rocks, ponds, and trees are no longer ‘safe’.
MOREOVER, Our 21 st century cities are still primarily designed and built around cars , in both suburban and urban communities, and fails to provide a sufficiently enriched or safe environment for play and independent mobility for children . Only 21% of 5-19 year olds use active travel modes to and from school (eg. walk or bike) - 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card
We have a growing Urban Play Deficit and this is an We have a growing Urban Play Deficit and this is an increasingly serious problem for our children who increasingly serious problem for our children who are experiencing more physical, social and mental are experiencing more physical, social and mental health challenges than ever before. health challenges than ever before. This urban play deficit is also a serious and This urban play deficit is also a serious and growing challenge for adults , particularly as the growing challenge for adults , particularly as the experience of 21 st century modern city living is experience of 21 st century modern city living is becoming becoming increasingly increasingly stressful, stressful, congested, congested, polluted and isolating. polluted and isolating.
So weaving play into the fabric of our 21 st century So weaving play into the fabric of our 21 st century cities, including more outdoor play that re- cities, including more outdoor play that re- connects modern living with nature, is critical to connects modern living with nature, is critical to providing much needed opportunities for daily providing much needed opportunities for daily rejuvenation, respite, relaxation and inspiration, rejuvenation, respite, relaxation and inspiration, for both young and old, of all abilities. for both young and old, of all abilities.
BIG IDEAS : PLANT A LOT OF TREES… LIKE A COPSE FOR CLIMBING, PLAYING AND ‘SHINRIN-YOKU’ 7 Benefits of Tree Climbing & Playing: 7 Benefits of Tree Climbing & Playing: Problem Solving & Creative Thinking Problem Solving & Creative Thinking Social Skills Social Skills Physical Development Physical Development Self-Esteem & Confidence Self-Esteem & Confidence Concentration & Patience Concentration & Patience Reducing Stress & Anxiety Reducing Stress & Anxiety Scientific Discovery Scientific Discovery Japanese forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is a practice that involves spending time in nature, among trees.
BIG IDEAS : USE MORE REAL GRASS SO BABIES, KIDS & ADULTS CAN ENJOY REAL NATURE
BIG IDEAS : MAKE IT ‘FUN’ TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS ALL YEAR AROUND
BIG IDEAS : MAKE IT ‘EASY’ FOR KIDS & FAMILIES TO ALWAYS BE ‘BEHAVING GREEN’
BIG IDEAS : READ THE LORAX
BIG IDEAS : BUILDING-SCALE DESIGNING FOR FAMILIES We would love to hear your big ideas! We would love to hear your big ideas! Jeanhy Shim Jeanhy Shim President & Founder President & Founder Housing Lab Toronto Housing Lab Toronto 416 738 0448 416 738 0448 jshim@housinglabtoronto.com jshim@housinglabtoronto.com
Recommend
More recommend
