Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team

The imposing play equipment in the form of an almost 20 feet high climbing tower will catch your eye even from a distance. The tower shines in resplendent red, yellow and orange from the newly designed Platz der Begegnung in Heidelberg. Here on the eastern outskirts of the town, where the Schlierbach valley gently slopes down towards the Neckar River, is the Schlierbach district. A development of mainly detached urban villas extends up the steep slope, while down in the valley, Heidelberg’s main artery – consisting of the S-Bahn (suburban railway) and Bundesstraße (A-road) 37 – pulsates along the Neckar.

In the lower part of the Schlierbach slope, just above the Schlierbach-Ziegelhausen S-Bahn station, there has been the Platz der Begegnung since October 2019 – a plateau embedded in the slope, consisting of a playground, a boules court and benches. Here, citizens of all ages can meet, relax, exercise and exchange ideas.

“This is exactly what the city of Heidelberg had in mind,” explains Friedhelm Natzschka, who as a landscape architect was responsible for designing the Platz der Begegnung, “A unique place with a distinctive character was to be created that would benefit the population. A place of encounter in an area where people have previously hardly stopped and lingered. A village square outside the centre.”

The main part of the newly designed square is a fortified area of almost 3,500 square feet, which is shaped like an egg from a bird’s eye view. This shape lends an organic appeal to the square and at the same time contrasts it with the rather striking lines of the surroundings. From here, visitors can enjoy a splendid view of the Neckar valley below and the green village structure of the Ziegelhausen district on the opposite slope. Benches invite visitors to rest and linger.

The highlight of the square is the climbing tower, which is located in the “yolk” area of the square. Not only because it offers a wide range of particularly exciting activities, but also because its modern and sculptural design brings a breath of fresh air to the Platz der Begegnung. The combination of curved and straight tubes in different thicknesses reveals a twist in the façade. Resembling the structure of DNA, the play structure spirals up into the sky. The organic shapes of the round tubes and spheres complement the overall appearance of the egg-shaped square.

The climbing structure can be ascended via a three-dimensional net made of ropes inside the tower. In this way, children can climb to a height of over 13 feet and change their perspective by looking at the “world” from above. At the same time, the transparent structure allows constant eye contact with the parents on the ground. From the parents’ point of view, this makes for easy supervision. A box slide provides a speedy and exciting descent down to the ground.

“The aim was to create a real attraction for the square by installing this extraordinary play equipment. The tower not only serves as a lookout over the Neckar valley, but also draws the necessary attention to the square by being visible from afar,” says Natzschka. The striking colour scheme of red and orange tubes and the yellow-coloured net also adds to this. At the same time, the tower blends in with its surroundings by picking up the hues of the reddish flooring of the square and the plants.

Another aspect in choosing the play equipment was the size of the play volume in relation to the floor space. “Which is ideal in the case of the DNA Tower,” thinks the landscape architect, “By making optimal use of its height with the spatial net, the tower can accommodate many children at once despite its small diameter of just over nine feet.”

Playing together on one device in turn promotes social interaction among children. Through interactive play, they develop social skills, learn to show consideration for each other or help each other. This is exactly the intention of the overall concept: a place of encounter.

The “Duck Jibe” spinning element attached to the tower provides plenty of variety on the ground. It simulates a surfing manoeuvre and thus also attracts older children.

In addition to the playground, the look-out benches and the boules court, the “Schlierbach Egg” can also be used for events such as flea markets or small parties, thus providing another place of encounter. As the site is wheelchair-accessible, people of all abilities can come together.

After about nine months of construction, the Platz der Begegnung was completed in October 2019. The opening of the square was met with great enthusiasm by the numerous residents who attended and gives hope that the “Schlierbach Egg” will remain a place of encounter in the long term.

This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, in Heidelberg, Germany. If you would like to create a relevant custom-made solution in Greece or Cyprus, please do not hesitate to contact with us at info@eliteareas.gr

Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team

“Liget Budapest” – that is the name of the largest and most ambitious urban culture development project so far in Europe, in which the symbolic and largest public park in Hungary’s capital was completely renovated. One of the most modern and varied playgrounds in Europe has been created on an area of 13,000 square metres in the south-eastern part of the park, which consists of a total of over 50 various play equipment. These are not only aimed at all different age groups, but also predominantly offer a high level of inclusive potential.

At the centre of this extraordinary playground, there is a hot-air balloon almost 12-meters in height, at the interior of which there is a huge spatial net. The ascent to the balloon`s basket takes place via rope ladders and climbing ropes, before the three-dimensional climbing net is accessed via ascent plateaus of varying heights. The famous painting “The Balloon” by the artist Pál Szinyei Merse from 1878 served as the model for the balloon design. It shows a hot-air balloon in the striking white-red striped colour combination, as it ascends from Városliget Budapest in the air. The new climbing balloon is thus not only an attractive playground equipment for the children in the park, but its appearance also creates a historical connection between the past and the present life in Városliget.

“The entire balloon is designed around a pendulum-mounted central mast, which is anchored to the ground with a total of eight ropes” explains Katharina Hilger from the Berliner Creative Center, who is primarily responsible for the development of the climbing balloon. “The spatial net was tensioned in a frame structure made of steel tubes, which is suspended from another four steel cables from the top of the central mast. In order to maintain the round shape of the balloon, the balloon skin has been stiffened using vertical plastic rods.”

It was a challenge to reduce the wind load, to which the balloon is exposed to due to its size. “We have used an air-permeable, PVC coated polyester fabric for the balloon skin. Thus we were able to make sure that the balloon can also withstand strong winds. At the same time, the slightly transparent textile structure ensures that enough light gets into the interior of the balloon,” says Hilger.

Another highlight of the playground are the two climbing towers, which are 11 meters in height, each of which are fitted with a tube spiral or a tube curve slide. While the ascent to one tower takes place via a challenging close-meshed spatial net, the other is equipped with sloping net plates that can be used to climb all the way up. Both towers are connected to each other through net tunnels, a large horizontal net and many other different low rope climbing elements. However, the towers and the balloon are by no means the only playground equipment in the Városliget City Park, which makes it possible to climb to great heights. Climbing enthusiasts can climb to the tree house Quii, which is located on the top of the mast of a three-dimensional central mast climber. From here, it leads via a net tunnel and another tree house into a low rope course once again. This ends with a large chessboard-cube made of rubber membrane mats.

In the immediate vicinity of the rope play equipment, there are various swing and jumping attractions close to the ground. In addition to a Net Swing, as well as the two nest swings Cup Swing, six persons can experience high-altitude flights together at the same time on the Face-to-Face Swing. Trampolines in different shapes and sizes provide enjoyment in jumping for both young and old.

In a separate toddler area, among other things, the play house Triitopia offers space for role-playing, retreats and first climbing experiences for the younger children. In particular, the sloping mesh floors in the tiny houses offer a special challenge for the children.

In order to be able to create such a modern and holistic play world, which is sustainable attractive for families and which is also used in the long term as a place for regular leisure activities, child psychologists, landscape architects, teachers and children were involved at the beginning of the planning process. Benedek Gyorgyevics, the Managing Director of the company Városliget Zrt. which is responsible for the Liget Projekt, is satisfied with the result: “The new playground helps to ensure that the young children of Budapest are able to live a healthier lifestyle than before, because it gives them the opportunity to be physically active in the fresh air – a real alternative to video games on the sofa at home”, says Gyorgyevics to the Daily News Hungary.

The playground is more than well received by the residents of Budapest! “We know that on sunny days between 5.000 and 6.500 people go to the playground”, says Tamás Sándor from S-TÉR – Berliner Partner in Hungary. “It means that approximately 15.000 – 20.000 people are using the playground per week.”

This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, in Budapest, Hungary. If you would like to create a relevant custom-made solution in Greece or Cyprus, please do not hesitate to contact with us at info@eliteareas.gr

Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team

“A world of which we didn’t know if it really exists.” That was the title of the design concept for the new adventure playground of the BarraShopping Sul Mall in Porto Alegre in Brazil. Meanwhile, this world has become a reality. Since March of this year, visitors to the outdoor area of the shopping mall are attracted by a gigantic climbing, adventure, and play area which looks like a small leisure park. The park has an ambitious claim to fulfill the needs of children of all age groups and attract their parents, catering to the whole family.

“This space was created so we can stop in time and remember how we lost our ability to dream and imagine, and as we need that time to relive this fantastic world of children’s imagination”, says Susana Ventura, CEO and Creative Director of Oikotie, and mainly responsible for the planning and design of the new playground. “And children need it. Need to be children. So especially children in Brazil, where so many do not have the time to be children.”

The 2,500 sqm large area is subdivided into four different thematic areas which are equipped with a total of 39 different play devices, such as the “Sensorial Garden”, the “Magic Valley”, the “Event Area” and an adventure play area called “Bravaria”. In addition, the park offers an impressive infrastructure consisting of a family bathroom, a protected baby care center with all the practical amenities for infants, drinking water fountains, and different food stations.

While the children can experience all their senses in the “Sensorial Garden” with different musical instruments, water fountains and light effects, the “Magic Valley”, with its crooked little houses and fairy-tale creatures, offers spaces for imagination and relaxation. In addition, shows and meetings can take place on the stage of the “Event Area”.

“Bravaria – The land of the Bold and Daring”, offers a multifaceted athletic program of physical activities. Whoever dares can come here to enjoy climbing, sliding, spinning, swinging or jumping. A highlight of this area is the tree house settlement which was built by the company Berliner Seilfabrik. Climbing up the ladder, one reaches the first of a total of three little “Trii”-houses of the Berliner Greenville product range. Through a net tunnel the children can climb up to the next “Trii”-house. An access net allows direct entrance to the “Trii” in the middle and thus offers an exciting alternative to taking the ladder. Finally, another net tunnel leads to the third tree house, from where a tube slide offers courageous climbers a perfect descent from almost ten feet in height.

“This land was created for those who are brave enough to explore it. We created obstacles and high climbing areas, several difficulties, so that kids would have to overcome their fears and strength, when playing. Its also an area where moms and dads like to feel the thrill also, so it unites families in the adventure”, says Susana Ventura.

However, the challenges for the young adventurers do not only lie in climbing up to the tree houses or through the net tunnel, but also in the adjacent low-rope course which consists of four climbing elements, each of which provides different levels of difficulty. The so-called “Wasps’ Nest“, an open net ball made of ropes, which can be reached via a rope ladder or climbing ropes, offers an additional opportunity to have a rest and relax.

Another special climbing experience is provided by the three-dimensional net climber “Jupiter“. It is here where many children can play simultaneously in three-dimensional space and in up to sixteen feet in height. The extension elements, such as the slide, jungle bridge, access net, and rope ladder are additional attractions.

The same applies to the “Disk XL” which is also part of the Bravaria play area. With a diameter of over seven feet, this device, too, offers room enough for whole families without losing its elegance. The angled and concave disc form does not just provide fun but also helps to train one’s body control. It is here where one can experience G-forces in an impressive way.

The offers of this play area are rounded off by the new so-called “Side-by-Side-Swing” which consists of two separate swings as well as a net swing which is ideally suited for swinging together up to lofty heights.

All of the three, the “Jupiter”, the “Disk XL” and the “Side-by-Side-Swing”, provide inclusive value by allowing children with different abilities to play together. They provide numerous challenges for the different motor skills as well as varied sensory experiences. Children with hearing impairments, for instance, can climb inside the spatial net and simultaneously stay in visual contact with other children. ADHD patients benefit from having to concentrate when they are climbing, whereas children in wheelchairs can experience gravity and centrifugal forces together with others on the “Disk XL”. The safety surface chosen allows easy accessibility for all users and even children depending on wheelchairs will be motivated to leave their wheelchair and move on through the spatial net.

In addition to the wide range of movement and fitness offerings, it is an exciting color design and the varied modeling of the ground which are particularly eye-catching. An organic hilly landscape is created through elevations of different heights and the existing hills. Between the play structures, there are flower beds with palm trees, regional and exotic plants and herbs which offer a wide range of colors and scents. This external appearance is supported by the colorful EPDM surface which consists of round forms and paths of different colors which remind of a colorful meadow from a bird’s-eye view. Berliner Seilfabrik, in turn, has adjusted the color scheme of its play devices accordingly, most of which “are shining” in the colors blue, grey and pink and thus look particularly fanciful. “We are especially fond of all the color possibilities that Berliner gives us because color in our projects always has a high presence. Berliner also has very high quality material and high resistance, and this was an important issue when you think of a park which has more than 1.500 kids playing there every day”, Ventura says.

The contracting entity is very happy with the implementation: “By providing our customers with special experiences based on the demands of BarraShopping Sul, we have developed a unique concept consisting of innovative play devices for the whole family”, says Eduardo Vitagliano, Manager of the Shopping Mall, as quoted on the website of the Multiplan Group. The visitor numbers show that he has had his finger on the pulse of age: already in the first three weeks after the park was inaugurated, it has been visited by more than 52,000 people. That is a great success for both the operators of the Shopping Mall and particularly for the children and their families of Porto Alegre.

This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, in Brazil. If you would like to create a relevant custom-made solution in Greece or Cyprus, please do not hesitate to contact with us at info@eliteareas.gr