Playground Renovation at HITSZ Experimental School

This project presents an innovative and sustainable proposal for designing high-density urban campus landscapes. Inspired by Isamu Noguchi, the project introduces a paradigm shift from playgrounds to playscapes. This transformation moves away from the rigid functional zoning and single-use approaches characteristic. By using playscapes as a catalyst, the project integrates art with functionality and play with learning, treating space as a dynamic sculpture. This approach enriches the possibilities for exploring, fosters positive and innovative interactions, and reshapes urban campuses.



Furthermore, the project explores innovative renovation solutions within constraints such as renovation timelines and budget costs. Given that the entire renovation of primary and secondary school campuses is scheduled during a two-month holiday period, with limited annual renovation budgets from the education bureau and the necessity for simple and easy daily maintenance by the school in future use, it is essential to develop strategies that are short-term, low-cost, and low-maintenance.



The project conceptualizes campus sports spaces as dynamic sculptures, creating spatial playscapes through flowing terrain. It organically integrates natural elements with functional activity elements, dissolving overly rigid functional boundaries within campus landscapes. Additionally, it fully leverages diverse colors and materials, activating spaces through color therapy. On one hand, it employs spatial color designs tailored to the psychological needs of adolescent athletes, shaping dynamic landscape surfaces that enhance physical and spatial activities and provide opportunities for creative exploration and social interaction. On the other hand, the overall campus color scheme fosters a more positive visual dialogue with the community, contributing to the cultivation of a shared community identity.



By incorporating Isamu Noguchi's Playscape philosophy as the core design ethos, this project embodies innovative thinking, achieving a paradigm shift from traditional "playgrounds" to "playscapes." It also reinforces the educational value of the project by integrating play, learning, and art, thereby creating a more exploratory and creative fusion of learning and community within play. This integration fosters multifaceted social and educational values, enhancing both the exploratory and creative dimensions of the community and educational experiences.