Redesign of Stepping Stones Playground

Baillieu Architects approached Stepping Stones school to offer our architectural and design services on a pro-bono basis. They told us that they were keen to redevelop the playground on the site which occupies the lower school at their Tower Road site in Hindhead, Surrey. Their vision was to create a haven for sensory play an exploration where the children could enjoy spending time, be physically active, interact with their natural surroundings and play in a wide variety of means. An important factor was that the children could be part of the process and take ownership of the re-creation of their playground. Given our brief involved the participation of the children we contacted Creative Willow, a husband and wife team whose expertise lies in creating living willow play structures which the children themselves take a hand in creating in the form of a workshop. Stepping Stones loved Baillieu Architects vision and opted to build a living willow play tunnel at their site. The project took the form of a 2-day workshop led by Ganesh and Elaine of Creative Willow, who are passionate environmentalists and teachers. The children, teachers and the team from Baillieu Architects all pitched to helped to dig a willow wall and weave the willow tunnel. We also learnt how to create living willow pencils and fashioned star shapes and other decorations out of willow for the playground environment. The Children will continue to have the ongoing responsibility of maintaining and weaving new growth into the tunnel as it matures. In addition to the willow play tunnel, we have made plans for a sensory world of possibility and exploration for the play area. There will be a water wall for water play which the children will design themselves and a "grow your own" garden area. Moreover, the existing Roundhouse will be redeveloped into a music pavilion with pentatonic musical instruments such a chimes, tubular bells and drums to provide the children with an opportunity for musical freedom and expression. Ultimately we hope to create a playground where the students at Stepping Stones will feel comfortable to explore, play and most importantly continue to be themselves.