Marianna Zioga - about playround

[urban design]

about PlayRound: Non Architecture Award for Unbuilt Projects

[keywords]

urban design, roundabout, playground, core, interaction, urban structure

[project description]

Roundabouts, especially those in an urban environment, are often "dead zones" primarily utilized for decorative purposes in the city. At the same time, they function as centers of movement, with traffic circulating around them, starting with a "ring" of vehicle lanes and often ending in a pedestrian sidewalk. "about PlayRound" is a proposal that focuses on creating a "core within a core", consolidating all its functions into a small area in the center of the roundabout, designed to fit the example of Volos, a provincial city in Greece. The main intention of the utility program of the proposal is to become a place of interaction between itself and the visitors, as well as among the people themselves — a "playground" built for people of all ages. Words that describe its potential uses include "sit", "rest", and "climb". However, approaching the concept as a mere utilitarian construction can be misleading, as the idea behind "about PlayRound" is about creating a space to be used and experienced. The materials used, as well as the form of the concept, are familiar to its environment. The main material used in the proposal, concrete, can be considered the cornerstone of the contemporary Greek city.

The structure has three types of access. At ground level, there are bike parking racks, as well as seating and tables, accessible to every visitor, including those with mobility difficulties. The upper levels are connected to the ground level by staircases. For these two types, planes were added, accessible via vertical incline using the holes of the concrete blocks as steps. Two cylindrical handles were added to the aforementioned access points to aid in climbing and enhance safety. This third type is meant for a smaller number of people; however, it is the manifestation of the structure’s self-purpose as an architectural space meant to be interacted with.

[drawings & visualizations]