In the realm of play, Thawsi Playground emerges as a departure from standardized, mass-produced plastic playgrounds. Architects Yarinda Bunnag and Roberto Requejo Belette from Imaginary Objects envisioned a space that maximizes the connection with nature, fostering a sense of unrestricted play.
A Unique and Challenging Site
Innovative Design Response:
Situated within the broader context of the Thawsi school Master Plan in Khet Watthana, Thailand, this playground stands as the initial phase of planned renovations. Uniquely challenging, its location above a proposed vehicular road demanded creative solutions. The design ingeniously elevated the playground, overcoming the eradication of its predecessor and adapting to the elevated platform.
Preserving Legacy Through Design
Wooden Heritage:
Preserving the legacy of the beloved wooden playground it replaced, the design pays homage to its successful aspects, prominently featuring wood as the primary material. This deliberate effort to recycle and upgrade ideas demonstrates an innovative approach, giving rise to a completely fresh proposition.
An Assembly of Distinct Parts
Elevated Platform Dynamics:
The elevated platform not only adds distinctiveness but also served as a canvas for an assembly-oriented design. Play structures were pre-built offsite, allowing for efficient on-site reassembly without the need for a structural foundation. The platform seamlessly integrates with the existing environment, respecting trees and ensuring a hazard-free play area.
Diverse Play Structures
Autonomous and Integrated:
Thawsi Playground boasts a diverse array of individually designed play structures, each with a unique function, structural logic, and autonomy. From the bridge and tower to the sandpit, balancing beam, and climbing steps, each element coexists with others, forming an integrated ensemble on the elevated platform.
Thawsi Playground stands not just as a play area but as a testament to innovative design thinking, harmonizing with nature, and preserving the essence of its predecessor while paving the way for new, creative possibilities in recreational spaces.
