Farrer Huxley
Ambition Something About Ambition Blah blah blahde balh

Marylebone Green Playground

The Regent’s Park, London

The sensitive redesign of a tired but well-loved playground in the Grade I Listed Regent's Park created a bespoke play destination fully integrated into the green setting.
 
New playground at Marylebone Green, The Regent’s Park.
 
Type Education & Play
Location The Regent's Park, London Borough of Westminster
Scale 0.4 ha (4,000 sqm)
Playground situated in The Regent's Park, London
Client The Royal Parks
Status Completed 2013
RIBA Stages 0-7

NICK BIDDLE
PARKS MANAGER
THE REGENT’S PARK

The playground has achieved exactly what we set out to achieve. I am absolutely thrilled. Thank you so much to everybody involved, from the very beginnings all those years ago making a commitment to diversify our “play offer”, through design concept, consultation, construction […]

 
 
Ambition Nature as Play The design keeps the ‘classic’ swings, slides and roundabout, endlessly loved by children, and builds on this by adding two new contemporary zones. An active sand and water area with a bespoke slide offers discovery a

Ambition

Nature as Play

The design keeps the ‘classic’ swings, slides and roundabout, endlessly loved by children, and builds on this by adding two new contemporary zones. An active sand and water area with a bespoke slide offers discovery and climbing opportunities. A larger natural zone recognises the play value of a large fallen tree, willow tunnels, grass areas, existing shrubs and considerable new planting.

Impact Expanding the Play Offer The new play zone has been transformational for this part of The Regent’s Park. The Royal Parks have extensive feedback processes which record ever higher user numbers, children spending longer at each visit a

Impact

Expanding the Play Offer

The new play zone has been transformational for this part of The Regent’s Park. The Royal Parks have extensive feedback processes which record ever higher user numbers, children spending longer at each visit and higher levels of return.

Approach Working with our Knowledge Our understanding of children and play led to the use of multiple scales, colours and materials. The three zones allow children of all abilities to access different types of play: bark mulch and rubber in

Approach

Working with our Knowledge

Our understanding of children and play led to the use of multiple scales, colours and materials. The three zones allow children of all abilities to access different types of play: bark mulch and rubber in the traditional play zone, sand and water in another and sand-filled springy carpet in the third.

For the Whole Family

We know the length of time children play is determined by how much time adults are prepared to stay. The scheme incorporates comfortable social seating, a café and WC’s to extend play time as much as possible.

Working with Community Groups

We worked with the Friends of Regent’s Park, who provide representation for all users of the park, as well as more specialist groups. Ideas for multi-sensory and sound play emerged directly from local school children as a result of consultation with the park’s local schools group.