Island House Community Centre

 

Client:        Tower Hamlets

                   Children's Services

Budget:      £90,000

Date:          2008

The brief was for the garden to be used year round by both the playgroup and adults at the same time so the external staircase was redesigned to create an easier access to the garden for the children. Decorative gates and rails divide off the adult and child areas in the day. The stairs were designed with shallow treads, a child height oak hand-rail and a play-house was tucked beneath the central platform. Centre users were involved in workshops to make the resin panels that were set into the stairs, creating a ‘magical journey’ for the children as they descend to the garden. At night the whole garden can be lit to invite people to use the whole space. The adult area has a barbecue fire pit and log seating for community celebrations. Bespoke storage cupboards, seating and deck provide a shady all weather play space. A water feature and a sand pit with boulders invites inventive play. A tricycle route around the garden takes the children around a mosaic snake 'roundabout' echoing the jungle theme used for the new space.