LevelUp: Taking Play to a New Level
Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team
The well-known playground concept in a new design
With LevelUp, the traditional playground idea of towers and platforms is supplemented by innovative add-on components and inclusive play elements. The well-known playground concept in a new design combines technical finesse with the usual high-quality standards and offers every playground planner new unexpected possibilities.
LevelUp offers room for imaginative play in which children at all stages of development will participate. Perhaps the children sail around the seven seas on a pirate ship, conquer a guarded castle or explore a lonely island.
Allrounder
Inclusion was an integral part and driving force during the development of LevelUp. Handles and steps help physically challenged children climb the height differences and thus participate in the game. Play panels close to the ground are also easily accessible to children in a wheelchair and train the users’ motor and auditory skills.
Various add-on components such as a fast lane slide, a chessboard bridge, entry nets and different ladders provide the necessary challenge and additional fun for little climbers and can be selected individually.
An integrated, printable sunshade completes the LevelUp play equipment. The roof structure looking like a leaf is made of high-tech mesh fabric that is dirt-repellent, 100% recyclable and resistant to UV light.
If you would like to create a custom-made solution in Greece or Cyprus, please do not hesitate to contact with us at info@eliteareas.gr
- Published in berliner
Waldwipfelweg in the Bavarian Forest, Germany
Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team
In the Bavarian Forest, near the Czech border, a marvelous nature discovery awaits you. A spectacular 2-kilometre-long Forest Treetop Path leads visitors at a height of 30 meters above and through the treetops to a gigantic tower in the shape of a spherical tree with an integrated playground of a special kind.
Various play elements such as net tunnels and bridges playfully connect six levels and thus approx. 23 meters in height up to the viewing platform. An inclined net ascent takes the visitors to an arched ascent with inner offset nets, which leads along the outside of the tower at a height of about 40 meters.
Once you have crossed the arch, you land on the level where one of the highlights of the forest tower is located: the ten-meter-high DNA Tower with a three-dimensional climbing net that almost sticks out of the tower with its posts.
Furthermore, you can balance across the forest tower on a jungle rope in an 11.5-metre-long net tunnel at a height of 6 metres. The second arched ascent leads up to the viewing platform at a height of about 7 metres inside the tower.
The viewing platform with a breath-taking view of the Bavarian Forest features another exciting one-of-a-kind highlight. Two close-meshed nets found at the far edge of the platform offer those who dare to step on the net a view 52 meters into the depths. This adventurous is absolutely unforgettable!
This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, in 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
- Published in berliner
Larry Gury Community Park
Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team
This accessible playground in Larry Gury Community Park offers play equipment for all age groups. This fully equipped play structure based on a Neptun invites you to take part in breath taking adventures. Crossing a jungle bridge, climbing up in the air, conquering a fortress, and riding down a fast-paced curved slide – this net spaceship guarantees hours of fun and is clearly the showpiece of the playground.
With a flubber ramp as an entrance, the journey starts off wobbly but the attached handholds provide support. This play structure enhances children’s decision-making skills, improving their physical skills, socializing, and taking healthy risks for their development.
This combination of a Spoo and a Mini Mars provides excellent opportunities for climbing, balancing, and sliding for small children. The Mini Mars is specifically designed for beginners, as most of the usable net space is close to the ground. Courageous climbers can experience the first feelings of success when climbing up to the top.
This bright playhouse encourages toddlers to role play while promoting their social behavior and communication. The slide ensures extra fun while playing.
This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, Sacramento, CA. 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
- Published in berliner
Earnings over cost
Written by David Flanigan, CPSI at Yalp Interactive
Imagine if you were practicing soccer skills and wanted to hit the ball against a wall at a specific spot or you wanted to test out your agility. How would you know if you were accurate? Now imagine that there is an interactive wall that lets you know if you hit the spot you wanted or had a game that challenged your ball handling? Well, imagine no more! Yalp Interactive Playgrounds has a unique and innovative interactive ball wall called Sutu (“To shoot” in Surinam). In fact, the Sutu is in hundreds of locations across the world.
In the US, there is one located at Miller Park in Omaha, NE which also happens to be the location of the nonprofit Football for the World USA. Monica Bosiljevac, the Executive Director, often plays on the Sutu and brings kids from the community to join her as part of the effort to engage youth in soccer. She loves the Sutu so much, that she reached out to me in the fall of 2021 and asked if Yalp could support the first Basel Ball, a soccer tournament in Miami that focused on raising funds to get a Sutu installed in Miami.
Joining Monica in this effort was Shane Malcolm, an international footballer who most recently played as an attacking midfielder for Colorado Springs Switchbacks and for the Guam national team. He also co-founded Bootbags, a company that is dedicated to providing quality products for traveling athletes, professionals and sports enthusiasts. For every 5 bootbags sold, it provides an opportunity to give a pair of new or lightly used boots to a child in need.
Yalp and our distributor Top Line Recreation excitedly agreed to be the presenting sponsors for the event.
On December 3-5, the inaugural Basel Ball took place at Urban Indoor Futbol in Miami. 20 teams participated along with several freestyle football players and youth from the local area. The energy and excitement from all of the players was electric. It was great to see how positive and uplifting the event was. I have no doubt that the momentum from this event will ripple through the City of Miami and beyond. Fundraising efforts are still underway for the Sutu with a goal of getting it installed later this year at Urban Indoor Futbol. I am excited to see kids and adults playing on the Sutu once it is installed!
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in Technology, yalp
The Cove
Written by Berliner Seilfabrik Team
Reality and fantasy merge at “The Cove” in Sacramento, CA. Multi-story treehouses connected by high-flying suspension bridges set the scene for this spectacular playground. An access net, a ladder, two slides, and slacklines extend the play value to a maximum variety.
An access net, a ladder, two slides, and slacklines extend the play value to a maximum variety.
In addition to the imaginative treehouse-village, this playground also offers various Playpoints that invite numerous activities. The organic and modern stainless-steel structure Butterfly with a special rubber bearing system ensures a lot of fun when seesawing.
Rotatable, inclusive, and so much fun, this little Christmas tree can be installed anywhere and is an enrichment for every playground.
The Eddie.01 stands up straight for kids big and small who love to go for a spin. Fun, style, and coolness – all rolled into one Playpoint!
This is a project reference of Berliner Seilfabrik, Sacramento, CA. 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
- Published in berliner
Memo Outdoor Classroom
Earnings over cost
I have heard this before, but what is a Memo Outdoor Classroom?
The Yalp Memo Interactive play pillars are positioned with a strong focus on education, with over 50 educational games set to multiple categories. But what if schools and teachers use Memo as an extension of their classroom? Or do they already? Will it empower them? And what impact does it have on the development of children? With this ambition in mind, the Lappset D&I team has taken up the challenge of starting a Memo research project. A deadline is set to September 2022 to present the first result.
A best practice is to showcase is the recent release of the Story Maker Game. A first playful step from the playground into the living room towards social-emotional skills development for the child, parent, and teacher. The Story Maker Game is aimed at children aged 3-6 on the Yalp Memo and lets children create their own story and reflect on it. With the help of Sem, they can select different parts of the story, which will result in a fun (silly) short story. Sem is their social-emotional mentor and gives players a safe person to identify with.
Watch the video for the full story of this development:
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in Technology, yalp
It’s fun and fundamental!
“As a teacher and a new mum when I first saw our new school’s playground, I had two thoughts. The first one was that: ‘Hmm… It might be risky for my students…’ (but – as an IB school we like growing risk takers students). The second one was that ‘How would I like to jump in and play like a kid’. Αnd so I did! And so did my fellow teachers!
After the first test we couldn’t wait for our students’ reactions! And yes! The kids absolutely loved their new school’s playground! All this time all the teachers at International School of Piraeus have been convinced about all the benefits of the Ropeland playground.
It’s a fact that rope play is excellent for the development of motor skills, muscles development and improvement of balancing skills of the students. Rope play also has significant social interaction benefits for children. While playing on a rope structure, children often play near others using the playground and practice their teamwork skills.
Children learn to take turns and work with others, especially when navigating around the playground and sharing the same space as other children. It’s obvious that through this kind of play students do their physical activity, that these days has been decreased due to the new virtual world we live in, full of screens and social media that undermine our health. They also strengthen their muscles and build their endurance and stamina.
Our students with sensory issues have gained play value from the interaction of rope and the feel of its’ coarseness. Another strength of this type of equipment lies on the motor challenge that they pose. For instance, children with ADD or ADHD benefit from the need to concentrate on their movements. At the same time, they can blow off steam by using their whole body.
Many times, we transfer our lesson inside the playground to make our activities more fun and engaging for our students. When our students are calm and happy, they foster better relationships, positively affecting both their mental and physical health.
Finally, our Ropeland playground is a great chance to have fun as well, allowing them to create memories and build a stronger bond with their classmates. Yes, that’s the greatest way to socialize!
We saw our students feel a sense of dominance, achievement, self – confidence and independence. They have gained more control over their legs and arms, so they have been prepared to deal with more difficult and complex challenges in their everyday lives.”
Chrysoula Vasileiadou IB Teacher, International School of Piraeus
Location: ISP, Piraeus, Greece
Realization: September 2021
Products by: Ropeland
- Published in Ropeland
Ambassador of MyEquilibria in the Greek Hotel Industry
Wellness Redesigned
We are immensely excited to share with you our collaboration with Stella Hotels Collection. The first MyEquilibria installation has been completed in Hersonissos, Crete and includes MyBeast Beach Club and MyIsle David, along with Accessories.
Through the new outdoor gym, the well-known and brand awarded hotel chain has further expanded its philosophy regarding Fitness and Wellness by embracing the Functional Art Concept.
“We are so proud to be the ambassadors of MyEquilibria in Greece because it is 100% aligned with our values. Our guests love it, we love it, it’s the ideal way to keep up with your fitness routine, even whilst on holiday.”
“The benefits of sports are endless, both in terms of our health and our psychology. What we love most about our cooperation with My Equilibria is that we share common goals and a passion for fitness. We feel joy and satisfaction when our guests admit that they will never see their workouts the same way again as the training setup is inspiring and gives them more convenient ways to exercise during their stay.”
Location: Hersonissos, Crete
Realization: June 2021
Products by: MyEquilibria
- Published in MyEquilibria
The Evolution of Playspaces – How Landscape Architects are Adapting our Outdoor Spaces for Intergenerational Community Recreation
Landscapes are the settings for great human memories, and undoubtedly lockdown has made us all realize just how precious our open spaces are, particularly in high-density cities. These essential spaces are a vital factor in the well-being of individuals and the community and there is actually little difference in our fundamental need for, and the use of, open space regardless of generation, age group, or culture.
Creating a great experience is one of landscape architects’ primary considerations when designing the greens, squares, streets, marketplaces, parks, and gardens that we all identify as outdoor public spaces. The physical, mental, and cultural activities of humans require amongst other things spaces to breathe and to be inspired, spaces to linger, to exercise, to dream, to meet by intention or by chance, and be creative.
Public spaces – being a place of free and open access – is traditionally linked to social, cultural, or economic exchanges, and are once again gaining increasing importance as a component of everyday quality of life, especially in urban areas. Loneliness and disconnection are on the rise, exacerbated by social distancing, and the disruption of normal routines, and those disconnections manifest themselves in other health issues for individuals including depression. In fact, loneliness is seen by many as one of the largest health concerns we face this century and the importance of social connection and relationships has been brought into sharp relief by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growing public attention to loneliness in our communities has been accompanied by designers and landscape architects beginning to challenge traditional modes of play and playground design and extending the role of open play spaces to include a range of different social agendas, which includes combating loneliness in all ages. The provision and use of these public open spaces (including privately owned spaces with areas for public use, such as shopping malls and public libraries), can have an essential role in promoting social cohesion, intergenerational connections, and opportunities for shared creativity.
We have historically divided our communities and our activities by ethnicity, language, age, and ability, but the potential for the hybridization of play spaces, where the spatial boundaries between adults and children’s activities merge, can result in innovative and uplifting settings which encourage connections and help secure the future prosperity of a community. One simple way to make this happen is through the introduction of outdoor musical instruments. Making music brings people together like nothing else and offering quality musical opportunities – on real instruments – for spontaneous music-making, provides an engaging experience where nobody is excluded from the fun whatever their ability, mobility, or age.
The notion of intergenerational activity and play has increasingly drawn attention over recent years, and a growing body of scholarly literature has begun to point more and more towards the premise that when adults and in particular seniors become involved in cross-generational learning activities with children and adolescents, huge benefits are accrued by both parties. Adding intergenerational play elements such as outdoor musical instruments to public spaces encourages connectivity and due to its universal appeal, playing music can successfully bridge intergenerational gaps. The combined effects of musical play and intergenerational social participation have proven to be incontrovertibly beneficial for the improvement and maintenance of both the physical and mental health of seniors. Given the opportunity to participate, regardless of physical or psychological impairments, intergenerational musical play in public spaces can serve as a fruitful, meaningful, and financially accessible activity for them.
Music is able to bring a diverse group of people together in the community because it transcends language limitations – instead providing its own language of rhythm and melody to enable its players and users to communicate with each other non-verbally. Providing opportunities for members of a community to be around each other in this way promotes familiarity and the formation of healthy relationships and helps to engender a sense of belonging for those who participate. It is apparent then that music can help us to develop a more cohesive society if access to it is provided and engagement promoted.
This growing body of emerging research is starting to relate music-making with place-making and specifically with the creation of an authentic community and the breaking down of stereotypes, all whilst simultaneously working to improve cognitive function, emotional capacity, and physical wellbeing of participants. Just as public music spaces bring people together and create a sense of civic vitality for communities, it’s also restorative for the individual.
While the pandemic has created enormous challenges, it has also potentially brought about positive change. The isolation it provoked was a good reminder of how much we need others — and places in which to be together — even in less trying times. Community wellbeing in the future depends on our taking a more joined-up harmonious approach to the use of public space and perhaps a little more music in the public realm could be the stimuli for positive community relations and a little less loneliness.
- Published in percussion-play