by: Alexander Sundberg, Architect - MAA and Solution Design Manager, KOMPAN

Playground design: The new look of a reduced carbon footprint

There is a pressing need to shift away from using virgin raw materials when designing playgrounds, towards new and more sustainable alternatives. But how do novel materials affect our possibilities of designing functional and aesthetic playgrounds? Our expert offers a perspective.

The new look of playgrounds

If you have children, chances are that you have visited a playground or two. Perhaps you have wondered how very different modern playgrounds look, compared to the playgrounds you remember from your childhood? Today’s playgrounds are not just bigger and bolder, but they are meticulously designed with careful attention to safety and landscape aesthetics, incorporating scientifically proven methods for stimulating and challenging children.

Depending on where you live, modern playgrounds are also often colourful and inviting, signifying the role of modern playgrounds as important communal spaces. But as we highlight in our article "The footprint of a playground", modern playgrounds are also highly dependent on virgin raw materials like plastic and aluminium. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop and shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives – and the solutions are already here.

Modern playgrounds are highly dependent on virgin raw materials like plastic and aluminium. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop and shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives – and the solutions are already here.

Full design freedom

The question now is: How will new alternative materials for playgrounds affect the look and design freedoms of modern playgrounds?

To put it bluntly: Will playgrounds become… well… boring?

We asked our expert, Alexander Sundberg, Architect MAA and Solution Design Manager at KOMPAN.

– Like many landscape architects, I’ve come to know and enjoy the possibilities and design freedoms of steel, aluminium and plastic. These materials are flexible, sturdy and durable, and their benefits have seemed impossible to replicate in other materials. But luckily, as our research and development work show, no material is irreplaceable – not even steel or plastic, says Alexander Sundberg.

"All materials can be replaced - even steel and plastic."

Alexander Sundberg, Architect MAA and Solution Design Manager, KOMPAN

새로운 대안

As you can read in the article "Greener playgrounds: Where durability meets safety", KOMPAN’s development of greener material alternatives has resulted in several breakthroughs. Like TexMadeTM playground posts made from textile waste, which can effectively replace the need for many steel and aluminium posts. Furthermore, new plastic alternatives have been developed using post-consumer waste like outworn fishing nets or plastic from household waste.

Rigorous testing has shown that the new materials are at least as durable and flexible as their predecessors. But how do the new materials fare when it comes to colours and shapes?

Colours and shapes play a crucial role in creating visually appealing and unique playgrounds. Strategic use of these design elements can influence children’s play behaviour and preferences. Bright, saturated colours attract children aged two to five, while older kids are drawn to more natural and muted tones. Shapes also influence children’s movements within playgrounds, leading them on exciting adventures and explorations. The good news is that landscape architects have the same design freedom with the greener material alternatives.

“Design freedom and increased sustainability are not mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. Our playground solutions can be as colourful as your heart desires – but with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.”

Alexander Sundberg, Architect MAA and Solution Design Manager, KOMPAN

놀이터 솔루션은 원하는 만큼 다채롭게 구성할 수 있습니다.

– We want to show our customers that design freedom and increased sustainability are not mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. So, our playground solutions can be as colourful as your heart desires – but with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint, explains Alexander Sundberg. He stresses that for many projects, wood-based playground solutions will also be an attractive option.

– We’re seeing a movement towards integrating playgrounds more seamlessly into landscape and nature. Here, our certified hardwood Robinia playground solutions are an excellent choice as they blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscapes, he says. Robinia-based playgrounds – like their counterparts made from recycled materials – have a naturally low carbon footprint, Alexander Sundberg ends.

업계 뉴스 | 온라인 매거진

친환경 놀이터 디자인

놀이터 환경의 진화에 대한 토론에 오신 것을 환영합니다. 놀이터는 어린이들에게 중요한 요소이며, 이제는 소비 후 재활용이 가능한 재료와 관행을 사용하는 방향으로 변화하고 있습니다.

이번 호에서는 이러한 소재의 구체적인 특성을 살펴보고, 놀이터 디자인에 가져다주는 이점과 이러한 소재가 전체 탄소 발자국에 미치는 긍정적인 영향에 대해 알아봅니다.

탐색, 학습, 디자인: 친환경 놀이터

놀이터 구성 요소에 재활용 소재를 사용하는 방법에 대해 자세히 알아보세요.

놀이터의 발자국

어린이 발달에 필수적인 놀이터는 원자재 채취부터 폐기까지 상당한 환경 발자국을 남기는 경우가 많습니다. KOMPAN 친환경 책임자 Dorthe Thorup-Kjærulff가 투명성을 위한 KOMPAN의 노력에 대해 이야기합니다.

폐기물이 가치있는 놀이로

KOMPAN은 탄소 배출량의 약 80%가 원자재 사용으로 인해 발생한다는 사실을 인지하고, 환경 발자국을 줄이기 위한 방법을 적극적으로 모색하고 있습니다. KOMPAN의 주요 이니셔티브에 대해 자세히 알아보세요.

지속 가능성을 높인 새로운 모습

건축가 Alexander Sundberg는 섬유 폐기물 및 소비 후 자원으로 개발된 TexMade™ 지지대와 플라스틱 대체재가 강철과 플라스틱에 견줄 만한 내구성을 자랑한다고 확신합니다. 놀이터 솔루션을 원하는 대로 다채롭게 만들면서도 탄소 발자국을 획기적으로 줄일 수 있습니다.