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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA engages children . It ’ s a philosophy that ’ s been increasingly included in urban revitalization plans worldwide .
“ One of the delightful things about children is their unfettered imagination ,” says Hamilton . “ Margarent Mahy was an advocate of allowing childrens ’ imaginations to run wild , and of engaging in unfettered play .”
But what does ‘ unfettered play ’ mean , and how can a constructed environment like a playground deliver that ?
Hamilton and her contemporaries say that one of the universal constants in child-led playground is that kids ask for things that are scary and challenging . Thus an underlying concept for this , and other playgrounds is based on deliberate but managed risk .
“ Children want to be scared and to be challenged , because they love to conquer their fear and overcome a challenge ,” explains Hamilton .
At the New Zealand Recreation Association ( NZRA ) awards in November 2016 , Opus was the winner of the Outstanding Project award for the design of the Margaret Mahy Family Playground . The playground was praised for the high level of play value and
integration of play activities into a wider park setting ; Opus ’ extensive consultation with children and use of their ideas in the design ; the use of vulcanised rubber to artistically resemble a New Zealand topographical map , and for pushing the boundaries of challenge and managed risk .
Hamilton believes that the ‘ winning trifecta ’ consists of a landscape architecture-led holistic design , together with play specialists delivering a high level of play value and equipment supplier who are able to create customized proprietary equipment to fit the specific project criteria .