Giving Children a Voice: The Thinking Behind our Award-Winning Playspace
As layer.studio approaches its tenth year of practice, we are reflecting on the moments that have shaped our journey from a small studio in 2016 to a national ecosystem of studios.
Our philosophy has always been that every place has depth, and our role is to work across all layers, from the strategic data of urbanism to the human-scale detail of a park bench. The Chillizens Play Pocket stands as a landmark pilot of this approach, embodying our commitment to authentic co-design by giving a definitive voice to local children. Celebrated as the Pineapple Award winner for Child-Friendly Place, this project demonstrates how we reimagined a dead end street, prone to flooding, into a "sensitive place of arrival" - a green, joyful sanctuary that embeds nature and play into the everyday.
Our approach was built on a commitment to authentic co-design. We believe that to truly transform a space, you must first empower the community to shape it. For Chillizens, this meant giving a definitive voice to the children of the local school.
We went on a "design journey" together through engagement, consisting of:
- Starting Early: Engagement began before a single line of design was drawn.
- Carefully Crafted Questions: We used specific prompts to expand their thinking and open new conversations about their environment.
- Creative Choice: Children were invited to share their visions through drawing, writing, speaking, and model-making.
Designing for "Holistic Play"
The judges commended the project for its holistic approach to the idea of play. Instead of a prescribed playground, we created an unprogrammed space where activity is not dictated by the design. This allows play to be self-directed, supporting short, joyful moments like:
- Exploration: Walking, running, and discovering within a lush rain garden.
- Connection: Using "talk tubes" to whisper and shout across the garden.
- Safety: Providing a place where parents can linger while children feel safe to create and rest.
Embedding Nature in the Everyday
The legacy of this pilot project is its climate resilience and biodiversity. What was once a standard urban space is now a functional ecosystem featuring:
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Two rain gardens with permeable bridges and rainwater management to reduce surface flooding.
- A Living Classroom: 9 new trees and 15 different plant species that provide cooling and filter the air.
- Wildlife Habitats: Integrated bee posts, eco towers, and bird box clusters.
The Legacy: An Epicentre of Laughter
Beyond the environmental benefits, the project has left a lasting social impact. The school reports that the space has introduced age-appropriate ways to discuss sustainability and climate change. As Headteacher Ben Wassall noted, the space has transformed into an "epicentre of life and laughter". To see more on this project, click here.
