Research-playground-Material

Anodized Aluminum

Anodized aluminum creates cool, kid-friendly climbs. The panels on our Mobius® climbers are made of recycled, textured, anodized aluminum. This rust-free surface refracts sunlight for a comfortable climb all summer long and is virtually maintenance free. And it’s grippy, so it helps kids maneuver safely through their loopiest climbs. Panels in cool silver; steel supports in any ProShield® color.

Anodized Aluminum

CableCore® Material

CableCore® material is tough, gentle and made to last for years. Unlike traditional ropes that can rub skin the wrong way, our CableCore material has a durable, UV-stabilized, easy-on-the-hands polyurethane coating surrounding a super-strong, aircraft-grade, galvanized-steel core. Our exclusive material won’t deteriorate or fray, become too hot in the summer or cold in the winter. And its gentle ridges provide a soft, sturdy surface kids can latch onto for climbing or hand-over-hand swinging. And with its thoughtful engineering, it can go for a generations without replacement! U.S. Patent #6,475,117

CableCore® Material

Concrete

We use Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) and wet-cast concrete to create specific concrete products. We spray GFRC into molds to create larger scale panels with intricate surface detail. GFRC can also be hand-sculpted onto steel frames, which we use to create more sculptural elements like 3D figures, animals and highly customized designs. We use wet-cast concrete to mold solid objects with precise detail.

Concrete

CoolToppers Fabric

CoolToppers® are designed to protect kids from up to 90 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays and keep playground temperatures up to 30 degrees cooler. It’s also flame retardant and resistant to mildew, fading and ultraviolet rays, making it a long-lasting, great looking addition to your playground. Available in seven colors shown, and custom colors for an additional charge.

Galvanized Steel

We only use galvanized steel for maximum durability. All galvanized steel parts are ProShield® finished for optimum corrosion resistance, UV stability and gloss retention.

Galvanized Steel

GripX

GripX is a UV stabilized HDPE (high-density polyethylene), marine-grade material. Specially designed slip resistant texture enhances traction and appearance. Easy to clean and endures harsh climate conditions.

GripX

Permalene® Material

Permalene® panels look like new year after year. In 1985, Landscape Structures introduced Permalene material to the marketplace in kid-friendly activity panels. Today, we use this strong 3/4”-thick, customized material for interactive play panels, tables, handholds and signs. The distinctive black core in these 73 percent post-consumer recycled panels is the result of combining and recycling colored plastic household containers.

Selecting color for permalene

ProGuard™ Finish

Difference you can see! ProGuard is a new super-resistant finish now applied standard to all Landscape Structures swing chain that’s at least two times more corrosion resistant than galvanized steel chain.

ProGuard™ Finish

ProShield® Finish

ProShield® finish is a smart combination of beauty and brawn. Our ProShield finish is so tough, it substantially increases the durability of our products. We’ve combined a specially formulated primer with a high-quality, architectural-grade powdercoat topcoat. The result is enhanced longevity, greater protection against harsh UV rays, prevention from corrosion and improved product performance. You’ll first notice the vibrant, long-lasting color and glossier finish. You’ll appreciate the fact that something so attractive also reduces corrosion and chipping, requiring less maintenance. It’s available in all the great colors you’ve come to love. And we reclaim our epoxy primer within the process, eliminating waste powder.

ProShield® Finish

Recycled Planks

Looks like wood, but lasts longer and are easier to clean. Created from 100% post-consumer high-density UV-stabilized polyethylene material to prevent warping in direct sun. Thickness of material varies by individual product.

Recycled Planks

Rotationally-Molded Polyethylene

The heavy-duty rotationally molded polyethylene material ensures strength and durability while resisting cracking, fading and peeling. Components constructed of durable double-walled polyethylene have built-in safety and are easy to install.

Rotationally-Molded Polyethylene

Steel-Reinforced Climbing Cables Powered by Berliner

Steel-reinforced cables provide years of safe, bouncy fun. Made of tightly woven, polyester-wrapped, six-stranded galvanized-steel cable. These abrasion-resistant, color-stable cables are extremely durable and vandal resistant. Powered by Berliner Seilfabrik, one of the most experienced manufacturers of steel cables in the world, with a global reputation for top quality since 1865.

Steel-Reinforced Cables Powered by Berliner

TenderTuff™ Coating

For swing chains, handholds, pipe barriers, wheels, rings, etc. Available in Red, Tan, Blue, Brown and Gray. Insulates against temperature extremes and provides a safer grip surface compared to painted metal. TenderTuff meets all safety standards and complies with Public Law No. 110-314, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

TenderTuff™ Coating

Textured-Polyester Resin Handgrips and Footholds

Durable, easy-to-grasp handgrips and footholds made of low-density, UV-stable polyester resin. Large enough to ensure secure grips, feels just like the climbing gym.

Textured-Polyester Resin Handgrips and Footholds

Source: https://www.playlsi.com/en/our-story/top-quality-and-service/materials-matter/materials-matter

Research-floor material/method

Wet pour rubber is the EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Modified) rubber granules that form the basis of wet pour playground safety surfacing.  Other fixed play surfaces such as Notts Sport Childsplay are polypropylene, but some ChildsPlay systems do incorporate the use of rubber crumb.

The majority of black, wet pour playground surfaces are made from recycled car tyres.  This is a positive step, as disposing of old car tyres has always been difficult and had adverse environmental impacts.

There is both a mechanical and chemical method for reclaiming the materials that the rubber granules are made from:

  1. The mechanical method involves cutting the tyres into pieces and passing them through a mechanical grinder.  A number of passes are required in order for the tyres to be cut down into small enough pieces to make them workable when they are laid as wetpour playground safety flooring.  Following this, large magnets remove any metal contaminants from the rubber crumb.
  2. The chemical method involves the tyres being melted over metal gauze.  The molten rubber is allowed to pass through the gauze and into cold water.  The temperature change caused by the water rapidly cooling the molten rubber, makes the rubber form into granules.  The size of the rubber granules is determined by the size/gauge of the gauze used.

Different sizes of wetpour rubber are used for different applications.  For instance the smallest granules (1-2 mm is this correct) are used in the Notts Sport Childsplay 90/120 system, where as medium sized granules (1-4mm) are used in the wearing course of wetpour rubber.  The largest sized granules (2-8mm) are used in the base course of wet pour safety surfacing.

Initially rubber crumb was resin bound in pre-cast tiles, which were a common form of playground surfacing.  Although it was easier to install, it was very susceptible to vandalism and ultimately ended up costing local authorities/parish councils too much to maintain.  Hence one piece, poured wet pour was created.  Look at the wet pour page for further information.

Groundwork and Leisure Services (GLS) offer a nationwide installation service for wet pour play area surfacing.  Many councils are however, opting to install Notts Sport ChildsPlay system, as they offer all the benefits of wet pour with a higher level of vandalism resistance and therefore longevity.  GLS therefore encourage would be clients to consider Notts Sport as potentially the best playground surface on the market.

Prototype development

  1. the old model only involves waist movements.
  2. in the 1st draft, aesthetics were not taken consideration yet
  3. The new model aims to become a system of tools/equipment that will engage isolated body parts to perform movements extracted from Taichi.   Therefore, there would be equipment cater to legs, waist, hands, arms separately. Furthermore, considering working adults would not be in exercise attire during office hours and they might just have few mins during their break, all movements could be considered as “N.E.A.T — non-exercise activities thermogenesis”. So users could do gentle movements with the help of the facilities.  Besides, this would enable more than 2 people to use this tools at the same time; hence, it would also be a good chance for people to talk and interact during their break.
  4. In terms of aesthetic, I would like to use the traditional taichi symbol as inspiration.  First of all this symbol is well-known by all most everyone, using it would be an obvious reminder for users that this facility is related to Taichi. Secondly, this symbol well expresses the ideology behind Taichi, which is ” balance ” “movements” “duality”, therefore, I would like to play with the iconic “black and white” color of Taichi symbol.
  5. I propose to use the combination of wood and metal to build this system to create the modern look. Normally, manufacturers use metal alloy to build this kind of facility because they are more likely to be put outdoor.

 

 

 

draft 1 by Nov 2016

picture1

Draft 2 by Jan 2017 

29-dec-2016-taiji-system01

taiji-system-2-15taiji-system-2 taiji-system-2-13 taiji-system-2-14

Vertical conversation tower

Inspired by nature, BuzziJungle offers a solution to the conventional meeting space. The launch of the BuzziJungle will introduce the design world to young Belgian talent Jonas Van Put. This is Van Put’s first project with a major international manufacturer. BuzziJungle is BuzziSpace’s reflection of their vision for the social office and further pushing the traditional boundaries of the workplace.

Various elements within the structure provide an opportunity for different interactions within the “jungle”. You can climb, lounge and meet in the elevated work-lounge space made from lacquered steel. The BuzziJungle creates an urban footprint in large and small spaces.

jonas-van-put-vertical-conversational-tower

Design by Jonas Van Put

Monolith Illustrations by Fabrice Le Nezet

Monolith, a series of poster illustrations inspired by architecture and kids playgrounds.

Fabrice Le Nezet is a London, United Kingdom based designer, visual artist, and filmmaker. You may remember some of our previous features of Fabrice Le Nezet‘s projects. His creative work draws inspiration from diverse genres such as architecture, fashion, and toys. Today it’s time to show you more of his outstanding design.

This series of prints is called “Monolith”. The collection of 10 illustrations explores the intersection between architecture and kids playgrounds. You can get each work as Gyclee print on Hahnemuhle photorag paper in the size of 25cm x 35cm.

 

2-monolith-illustrations-inspired-by-architecture-and-kids-playgrounds