What is needed to create a comfortable space for children in the city?
Alexandra Chertkova: We have formulated the basic principles of a comfortable space for children in the city in our concept “City for Children”. This is an integrated approach that makes it possible to make all the elements of the city - streets, courtyards, squares and parks - safe and friendly, and most importantly, adapted to the perception and needs of small townspeople. The first principle is the ability to move freely and safely. This is ensured by the regulation of the speed limit of cars on residential streets; articulation of the boundaries between the pedestrian zone and traffic; creation of a network of closed pedestrian routes linking centers of attraction for children; the creation of play spaces not only in the yards, but also on the streets; ensuring adequate lighting of all streets and social control. The second principle is the variety of play areas in the urban environment, play formats and landscapes. Moreover, all of them should not be strictly limited and fenced off, but woven into the fabric of the city so that the child has the opportunity to observe all the mechanisms of city life.
The third principle is identification. Each object of the urban environment should have "its own face". The city as a whole should be child-friendly and an interactive learning environment.
Another global principle - ecology - applies to the "City for Children". Cities should have protective barriers against busy traffic and natural oases with good noise isolation.
The environment should be comfortable and interesting for both children and adults, so that these two groups interact, exchange experiences.
The principle of inclusion is obligatory: children with disabilities should be included in public life and make full use of the urban space.
Also, it is fundamentally important for us to apply in our practice and popularize the involvement of children in the design process. Thus, a personal responsible attitude to the city is formed, the process of self-identification is facilitated, the needs of children in the city are identified and unconventional solutions are created.
What are the main trends in the development of spaces for children, playgrounds today? Especially in Russia?
A. Ch.: For us, trend # 1 is methods based on interaction with future users of the environment. It is necessary to correctly ask questions of the target audience - children and adults about what they think about this or that place, how they are going to spend time there, and then correctly interpret the answers and process the data obtained.
Trend # 2 - the creation of specialized zones for different age groups and the allocation of space for joint use. Each area should be equipped with equipment designed for children of a certain age. Accordingly, the assortment line of manufacturers should include sets for the smallest, for older children and for adolescents.
The third trend is the equipment of places for various forms of pastime: role-playing games, active climbing, quiet games, quiet rest, socializing in a company - we even have such a term for communication places - “shushukalnitsa”. We have developed a minimum set for a high-quality playground, where every child will find something to do: he can sit alone or in a company, wants to - can actively play, run, come up with a game itself. Therefore, trend # 4 is to provide maximum variability. This is a powerful element of development and communication on the site: small people should have the opportunity to play interestingly and enthusiastically together, establish interpersonal connections, experiment and implement their ideas.
Another trend worth mentioning is routes. It is not enough to think only about some separate sites, it is necessary to develop routes connecting them of different scales: courtyard, district, city. These are the paths of communication, paths of intersection and communication. This can be a safe route for wheeled transport for children, a walking route for mothers with strollers, including different zones in which the older child will have something to do. Such an integrated approach ensures the most effective pastime in the city space for both the child and the adult.
What is needed to increase the attractiveness of such spaces, not only in the city center, but also in other areas? How can we use urbanism to create places of attraction in city districts?
A. Ch.: The main problem of peripheral areas is the monotony and dispersion of buildings. And the development of recreational spaces now, unfortunately, does not always solve these problems, the symbol of which has become the same plastic "kremlins" with a standard set of equipment and monotonous functionality. It is necessary to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the district development, identify pedestrian routes, places of attraction with the potential to form local centers, in which unique public and recreational functions will be concentrated. Thus, we will create a bright, original space with which the entire area will be associated, and at the same time, we will form a place and an occasion for neighbors to communicate. Of course, in each courtyard, the necessary functionality should be left, allowing users - residents of this courtyard, who, for example, cannot or do not want to go outside - to use the space. In local centers, it will be possible to install individually designed and multifunctional equipment designed for a larger number of users, and in ordinary yards it will be possible to install more economical and standard equipment.
We at Druzhba are confident that in the near future large Russian cities will begin to use this technique to qualitatively change the environment in dormitory areas through the creation of unique local recreational centers. To do this, it is necessary to introduce such an integrated approach into long-term programs for the development of the urban environment.
In addition to complexity, it is necessary to more actively interact with residents in the framework of urban improvement projects in Russian cities. An excellent example of a constructive dialogue with the townspeople can be the successful experience of the Moscow program "My District". Involving residents in the process of making decisions about what their yard and their area will be will solve many problems.
Tell us about the completed urban projects that you consider the most successful
A. Ch.: Here I would like to mention two projects - in Vyksa and in Naberezhnye Chelny. Music, sports, art and general education schools, as well as a center of scientific and technical creativity were concentrated around the square on Pirogova Street, 6. At the same time, there was no space for children where they could spend their free time, play after class.
From a place absolutely unsuitable for public use, we, with the help of local residents, created a living, actively developing space. The artistic and design concept was invented by the children themselves, and we, professionals, were guided by this concept throughout the entire period of the project. As a result of common efforts, an object was created on the border of a public space and a playground. We have created a space that is new in terms of typology and functions, starting from the specifics of the place and the wishes of users.
In the project in Naberezhnye Chelny, we were faced with the task of creating new scenarios for the use of a modern courtyard. We took as a basis the principle of combining functional areas, each of which has several options for use. The center of the courtyard is a modular object that includes a table for celebrations, a stage, and an area for communication under a canopy. For lovers of a relaxing holiday, we have designed diverse places for communication and privacy. The playground is a maze of green modules - "classrooms". There are areas for active play and calm - "shushukalnitsy". In addition, we have formed children's routes with objects scattered on them. And, most interestingly, they came up with a new functional design for the clothes dryer and carpet beater. It turned out that this format is still in great demand.
What are you working on now?
A. Ch.: Now we are starting to work on an experimental project of a constructor made of play equipment and improvement elements for kindergartens. The project includes the development of guidelines for the use of the designer and the creation of various combinations on its basis, adapted for specific sites and tasks. We have included a research part in the project, involving work with future users of the designer, and we plan to add an engagement stage to the methodology, which will have to precede the development of each combination. We hope that this project, which consists of three elements: a constructor, training manuals and practice of involving children and teachers, with scaling and active implementation, will make the courtyards of kindergartens unique even if they consist of ready-made elements.
