Laura Guscott
Celebrating the Positive Side of 2021
Friends – With the end of the year just around the corner and we look back on 2021 it’s tempting to view it through a dark lens. No one can be blamed for seeing 2021 as another year of hardship, when Covid continued to reign over our lives, constricting us…
Rediscovering What Matters Most
Dear friends, With the end of 2020 here, it’s tempting to just want to put it behind us and look ahead to 2021. No one will blame us for saying “Good bye” to a year of divisive turmoil, social separation, distancing and, for all too many of us, a year…
The Van Beuningenplein
Old situation The former Staatsliedenbuurt is an early 20th-century layout of Amsterdam. In recent years this area has undergone an extensive urban renewal. Social houses are renovated and partly sold to stimulate diversity among the inhabitants. A lot of emphasis is put on upgrading the public space’s quality. Gentrification has…
Benefits of Sensory Play through Sand & Water
Summer’s here, and as the temperature rises you’ve probably found your mind wandering to visions of hot sand and cool water. Imagine lying out in the sun, digging your feet into the coarse sand, and feeling the force of a wave coming from and receding back into the ocean. It’s…
Honoring Play Enthusiasts: Friedrich Froebel, Gift Play
Friedrich Froebel is the “father” of the kindergarten concept. Froebel studied the natural sciences as well as architecture and had a profound understanding of the interconnectedness between the two disciplines. Under the direction of Anton Gruener, headmaster of the Pestalozzian Frankfurt Model School and in reflection of the teachings of Johann…
Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!
Our Candy Park and Playground by Laura Every year I create a gingerbread village and this year I was inspired by the Conlastic playground equipment and decided to recreate some pieces with candy. The Conlastic PlayPoints are made from gum paste, marzipan, gum balls and edible metallic glitter dust. You will see…
Honoring Play Enthusiasts: The Fantastic Art Play of Isamu Noguchi
Recently I stumbled upon an article in the LA Landscape blog reviewing the Playa Vista Central Park. I noticed that they commented on the playground area designed by the Office of James Burnett as: “Contemporary play area recalls a Noguchi playground”. I admit that I wasn’t familiar with Noguchi so…
Why do Playgrounds Get Boring?
There was a park and a small playground behind the house that I grew up in. It was a typical playground of the 60’s and 70’s: Swings, see saws, and a free-standing slide. I loved this playground; I spent endless hours swinging on the swings when the swings weren’t twisted…
Not Up to Playground Standards? My Confession as a Playground Aunt
According to ASTM 1487 & the CPSC, we have two age groups for playground standards: 2-5 and 5-12. In addition, they have recently introduced another standard for playground manufacturers for 6-23 month-olds. In short, the playground standards are based on anthropometric data (comparative sizes/measurements of children at age 2, 5 &12),…
Snowshoeing Through a Gorge – Inspiration for Water Play – By Laura
When I was a young child in kindergarten my class would walk down to the Credit River in Misissauga, Ontario, every Friday morning. We would walk along the river and sometimes collect leaves, pebbles, sticks or pinecones for craft projects. We learned about the natural world by exploring and experiencing the sounds…
Cool Slides – for Architecture, Art & Fun!
Here are a few slide installations from our awesome slide manufacturer. This is really functional art! Biel Expo, Switzerland, Triple wave slide with polycarbonate covers Tate Modern Gallery, London (installed 2006), 5 Tube slides, stainless steel with polycarbonate covers PT Plaza Lifestyle Prima, Jakarta, Indonesia (installed 2008), Stainless steel slide with…
My Trip to Sweden (Germany Part 2)
I spent the last few days of my European trip in Sweden visiting my step brother, Simon and his family. Stockholm is beautiful at night (and I’m sure during the day too) and the countryside is picturesque. I really don’t think I’ve ever seen a more amazing sky at night with…
