in architecture

Veronica Keefer | Philadelphia University | Architecture 2012

what is

play

play is

older than culture, for culture, however

inadequately defined, always presupposes human society,

and animals have not waited for man to teach them their
playing. . .

Play is a thing by itself.

-Johan Huizinga, philosopher

what is

play

play : noun
game, sport
the conduct, course, or action of a game
ones turn in a game
recreational activity;
especially: the spontaneous activity of children
the state of being active
a dramatic composition
free or impeded motion

play : verb
to engage or take part in a game
to take advantage
to move aimlessly about
to toy or fiddle around with something
to feign a specified state or quality
to wield, ply
to gamble
to perform music [on/of]
to pretend to engage in the activities of
-Merriam-Websters Dictionary

what is

play

wan
Chinese
to be busy
to enjoy something
to trifle
to romp
to jest
to crack jokes
to make mock of
to examine
to sniff at
to twiddle little ornaments
to enjoy the moonlight

what is

play

Danish

Arabic

lege

laiba

Swedish

leka
Greek
Latin
French
ludus
-inda
jouer
German Sanskrit
Spanish
jugar spielen
lil
Irish
Italian
kridati
imirt giocare
divyati

what is

play

Plato
play is a voluntary activity or
occupation executed within
certain fixed limits of time and
place, according to rules feely
accepted, but absolutely
binding, having its aim in itself
and accompanied by a feeling
of tension, joy, and the
consciousness that is different
from ordinary life.

what is

play

Play is the way

that children learn
about themselves
and the world [in
which they live].
-Richard Dattner
architect

free

play

develop language skills

construct meaning
develop self efficacy
motivation to learn
engage in their environment
learning by doing

free

play

develop language skills

construct meaning
develop self efficacy
motivation to learn
engage in their environment
learning by doing

free

play

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

yxx tR
What is

IMAGINATIVE

game or activity initiated

and directed by children

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
deficit
The average child
spends

hours per day

in front of a TV, computer,

or video game

play
deficit

of schools are
cutting recess

play
deficit

affects

higher rates of

higher rates of

higher rates of

higher rates of

childhood

childhood

ADHD

violent

depression

obesity

behavior in
classroom

play
challenges

What stands in the

way of free play?

play
challenges

What stands in the

way of free play?
cultural ideals
parents
over-scheduled lives
politics
testing
liabilities
inadequate spaces

play
challenges
We are building
childhoods based
on fads and crazes,
fashions and gimmicks.
-designer Alison Clark

Cultural Ideals

play
challenges
Redirect our thinking to
understand that mess
can be beautiful.

Parents

Parents

play
challenges
Redirect our thinking to
understand that mess
can be beautiful.

vs

play
challenges

Over-Scheduled Lives

I dont really have

much time to play at all because
I have piano lessons.
My mom makes me practice . . .
and then I have homework . . .
and then I got soccer practice . . .
and then there is no time left over
to play. On weekends we usually
have soccer games . . . practice
piano . . . yard work . . . the chores,
and then Im free to play-which is
only about two hours,
three hours something like that.
-child in San Diego, quoted by Richard Louv

play
challenges

Politics

We must learn
to think of
playgrounds as
an urban
building type

play
challenges

Testing

Not everything
that can
be counted
counts, and not
everything that
counts can be
counted.
-Albert Einstein

play
challenges
The American
Public has difficulty
with assessing risk
on a daily basis.
-Susan Solomon
architectural historian

Liabilities

play
challenges

Inadequate Spaces

[Often], if there is an
outdoor play space, it is
poorly designed.
-Barbara Wasik
developmental psychologist

play
design

Can architecture and

design save the world?

play
design

Can architecture and

design save the world?
No, but it can help.

play
design

Polyvalence
Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Polyvalence
Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger
architect

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Polyvalence

Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger, architect

SketchofHertzberger boxfloor

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Polyvalence

Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger, architect

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:LifeMagazinearchives

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Polyvalence

Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger, architect

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:PeterCox

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Polyvalence

Design that take[s] on its

identity through usage.

-Herman Hertzberger, architect

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:PeterCox

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Natural Playscapes

Teaching children about the natural world

should be one of the most important events in their lives.
-Thomas Berry, priest and cultural historian

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoandDesignCredit:CurtisTom

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Natural Playscapes

Teaching children about the natural world

should be one of the most important events in their lives.
-Thomas Berry, priest and cultural historian

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://preciouschildhood.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:Niki Buchan

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Natural Playscapes

Teaching children about the natural world

should be one of the most important events in their lives.
-Thomas Berry, priest and cultural historian

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:TimGill

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Natural Playscapes

Teaching children about the natural world

should be one of the most important events in their lives.
-Thomas Berry, priest and cultural historian

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:TimGill

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Ability to Manipulate
Kids need the opportunity

to DO;

to engage in their environment.

-Barbara Wasik, psychologist

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://preciouschildhood.blogspot.com/
PhotoCredit:Niki Buchan

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Ability to Manipulate
Kids need the opportunity

to DO;

to engage in their environment.

-Barbara Wasik, psychologist

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Ability to Manipulate
Kids need the opportunity

to DO;

to engage in their environment.

-Barbara Wasik, psychologist

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Ability to Manipulate
Kids need the opportunity

to DO;

to engage in their environment.

-Barbara Wasik, psychologst

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
ImageCredit:AllanKaprow

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design

Ability to Manipulate
Kids need the opportunity

to DO;

to engage in their environment.

-Barbara Wasik, psychologist

MANIPULATE
ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
ImageCredit:AllanKaprow

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

Location

play
design

What good is a playground if the children

cannot get to it?

MANIPULATE
ENVIRONMENT

http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/
ImageCredit:AllanKaprow

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

Location

play
design

What good is a playground if the children

cannot get to it?

MANIPULATE
ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

Location

play
design

What good is a playground if the children

cannot get to it?

MANIPULATE
ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

Location

play
design

What good is a playground if the children

cannot get to it?

LOCATION

MANIPULATE
ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL PLAY

POLYVALENCE

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

IMAGINATIVE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

play
design
Design
For
Play

LOCATION

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED IMAGINATIVE

ABILTY TO
MANIPULATE

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

NATURAL PLAY POLYVALENCE

play
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http://mrg.bz/F1E2YT

http://www.photoxpress.co
m/stockphotos/young/
youth/black/3299544/partn
er/Xj9qdHIQyb7etVXie4irtP
Q9xtZobSzz

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9xtZobSzz

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http://mrg.bz/HYuRbQ

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tos/11399912@N00/68978
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http://www.photoxpress.com/stock
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/albert
ogp123/5843577306/

play
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http://www.flickr.com/ph
otos/jessicafm/83611088/

http://mrg.bz/fJ3flC

authorsphoto

http://www.flickr.com/phot
os/aerophish/425961320/siz
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authorsphoto

play
Seven Design Criteria
for Childrens Spaces

INDEPENDENT
UNSTRUCTURED

UTILIZE
FIVE SENSES

IMAGINATIVE

ABILTY TO
MANIPULATE

LOCATION

POLYVALENCE

NATURAL PLAY

Veronica Keefer | Philadelphia University | Adviser: Brian Szymanic | Architecture 2012