Challenging & green experience square for students De Twijn
A large, bare tiled schoolyard has been transformed into a green, challenging and exciting inclusive experience square for all students of Education Centre De Twijn in Zwolle. The square has been received with enthusiasm and has now been put into use. A combination of play elements and landscaping makes it a wonderful place. Inviting and accessible to all students, where they can play to their heart’s content and explore.
Vision on outdoor play
Onderwijscentrum de Twijn is a special education school that guides its students to a meaningful place in society. She guides her students to resilience and challenges them to develop their talents optimally. Students are also challenged to persevere and never give up; to win on willpower. They learn to take control and stand up for themselves. In doing so, they are taught to build and maintain relationships themselves. A vision that fits the subject of play and movement and is the starting point for the design for this experience square. Playing and moving is not only a lot of fun, but playing (outdoor) together is extremely important for the personal development of a child. In the schoolyard, students take on physical challenges, interact with peers, make friendships and learn to stand up for themselves.
Accessible schoolyard
The school had the desire to create a schoolyard where the students can safely (learn) to play and explore. With a focus on more green and sensomotor play elements, which are accessible to all students. Because play must be especially accessible, for everyone, regardless of physical or intellectual skills. From this point of view, various parties have come together to jointly draw up a plan to meet this wish. The close cooperation between the various parties resulted in an appealing and challenging design and design plan.
Design and layout plan
Within the design, an analysis of the wishes and needs of the space users and a spatial analysis of the square were first made. What do the students want in their square and what are useful tips and wishes of supervisors. The transition from the inside out and vice versa, for example, is already very impressive for some children. Therefore, seats have been placed at the entrance and exit to facilitate this transition. To make the square physically accessible to everyone, the paths are extra wide and a large bench has been placed that can also serve as a grandstand. For sensomotor activities, many colorful elements and touch and smell experience are included in the design. Think of platforms with fragrant plants, a music wall for sound experience, a water and sand device, cheerful colors and materials and on the subsurface square pickers in various forms. In doing so, it has been ensured that these elements are also accessible to all pupils. For example, by placing various parts at height. For example, two sand tables have been placed at height at the existing sandpit, you can drive under the water table to play with the water and the platforms with planting are adjusted to the right height.
Extra experience
What also makes the square unique is the willow tunnel and pergola. Where children can walk/drive underneath and where colorful ribbons can be applied for extra experience and fun. For the sporty there is a football field and a traffic square with petrol station and a small farm to stimulate role play. For example, there is something for everyone and playing (together) becomes even more fun.
“We are very happy with our new square and cannot thank all the people who helped with its realization often enough.”
(bron: www.detwijn.nl)
Tailor-made advice and design
Also curious about the possibilities in the field of inclusive play and the development of an accessible experience square? For schoolyard design and the layout of the public space, we offer a wide range of possibilities. Contact us for tailor-made advice.
Planning and implementation: BOERplay, Gemeente Zwolle, The Citadel Company, Notenbomer Multiservice, De Speeltuinbende, KSP Artificial grass, Pleinplakkers
This project has also been highlighted in an article in BuitenSpelen (edition 4 2019)
This experience square was made possible by: Brink Towing Systems, Enexis, FNO Klein Geluk, Stichting Het Hervorminge Weeshuis Zwolle, NSGK, Ouderraad de Twijn, Subvention and Provincie Overijssel.
