Scenes from a Play(ground)
A proposed combined solution to the issues of theatre set sustainability and lack of playground space for children in inner city areas. Turning old theatre sets into playgrounds and proposing a new idea for Belfast as a kid friendly city.
The idea came from my experiences working in theatre and seeing the ‘fast fashion’ approach to resources within the creative space. It was important to not only design a second for these production sets but to also to suggest ideas for how to improve ‘set sustainability’ within the industry.
The project focuses in on the Sandy Row area Belfast, a part of the city that lacks the resources and space to allow for the enrichment of young people.
PART ONE BELFAST, THE CITY FOR KIDS
An abstract proposal of Belfast as a city which prioritises the needs of children. Stretching on the urban scale, I am putting forward an idea for how to change spaces based on research around creating child friendly cities. I also explore Belfast in its current condition through the eyes of a child, and from there imagine what the city would look like if the solution was implemented.
PART TWO, THEATRE PARK
SANDY ROW, BELFAST
A proposal for the Murray’s Exchange carpark and abandoned lot next to it in Sandy Row. A new greenspace, with permanent playgrounds focusing on risk and intuitive play, a café and amphitheatre. The idea is community centric with the aim to “focus on enabling new interactions: encouraging people to engage with public spaces, material objects, community assets and other elements of the neighbourhood” (Sendra and Sennett, 2022, p.109). On the same site there are two new storage units for the theatres around Belfast to use and share resources, as recommended by Max Dorey (Margolies, 2021).
PART THREE, SCENES FROM A PLAY(GROUND)
Scenes from a Playground are a series of temporary playgrounds that I am proposing to make out of recycled theatre sets (from the inventory) and place in liminal spaces across Sandy Row. Designed looking at ideas of successful playgrounds, uses of forgotten spaces and temporary architecture.
