Berlin is known for many things, but playgrounds are not one of them. Which is weird because they’re amazing. They might not fit the poor but sexy image of Berlin’s never-ending nightlife, but the playgrounds here are some of the most creative and challenging around. And there are a lot of them.
For the last 50 years Berlin has nurtured playground design and innovation, while many parts of the world retreated to boring plastic slides and rubber ground.
In this episode we explore the complex relationship between city planning, political movements, creative risk taking, legal systems and the history of the playground itself. And discuss the importance of these often overlooked spaces.
Episode 06 was written by Katarina Petrovic, Cody Swanson
Artwork by Katarina Petrovic
Music by Cody Swanson
+big thank you to Jannes Peters, Lukas Hanke, Cherry Cheung, Giulia Cappello, Max Ziegler, Thamina Rastagar and Thomas for being a part of this episode!
Berlin, Spielwagen portable playground, ca `80
\ FURTHER READING AND EXPLORING
Berlin’s Playground Guide- Jannes and Jari- featured in this episode
Kolle 37 - an Adventure playground we visited in this episode- official website
\ BOOKS
\Chudahoff, H. (2007), “Children at Play, an American History”, New York University Press
\Kinchin, J, O`Connor, (2012), Century of the child, Growing by Design 1900-2000”, Museum of Modern art
\ OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND STATS
Children´s playground law (German)
Official Stats about playground areas in Berlin
\ ARTICLES
great and informative article- Anderson-Oliver, Play Matters: The Style and Substance of the Berlin Spielplatz, Assemble Papers
What makes Berlin a playground Paradise
\ OTHER
Raum für Kinderträume- Initiative for creating new playgrounds in Spandau
Great base for discovering new playgrounds in Berlin- including maps, reviews etc.
Kreuzberg, 1920
Berlin, Kolle 37 Adventure Playground `90