Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Synposis of the the thesis missing. Includes special report study entitled : Open space in urban fabric. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes special report study entitled: The sense of experiences in Hong Kong. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional & Community Planning / Hyung Jin Kim / Nature-based play is gaining attention in early childhood education because of the social, physical, and cognitive benefits from interacting with nature at a young age (International Play Association 2014). Some studies provide strong evidence to suggest that nature-based unstructured play can have a positive benefit on early childhood development and improve the socialization, problem solving, confidence, creativity, autonomy, and self-awareness in children as well as their physical health (Fjortoft 2004, Louv 2005). The purpose of this study is to identify differences in play behavior among preschoolers that may influence early childhood development between standard or traditional playgrounds and playgrounds designed with interaction with nature, or access to nature, and, thus, to suggest design solutions for play environment, which responds to the issues this research identifies. This is a comparative observational study on play behavior between two study settings, including nature-based and standard/traditional-play environments with nature-access . Comparative observations were conducted at the Center for Child Development (nature-based) and Hoeflin Stone House Early Childhood Center (standard) at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Preschoolers’ play behaviors and behavior-environment interactions in both settings were compared using behavioral mapping and time-lapse observation (20 minutes per subject) techniques in which their location, activities, and interactions were recorded. Findings suggest that children in nature-based playgrounds are more likely to be physically active and creative with their play. Also, movable and manipulative play elements (“loose parts”) allow children to engage in more social activities than standard anchored playground element vs. standard playgrounds, however, allow children to explore games with rules and provide valuable development for motor and social skills. Therefore, this study suggests a design approach that is a hybrid between designed nature and standard play in a way that utilizes the positive aspects of both types of play. These findings will lead to a call for research and design into the direction of creating outdoor play environments that infuse standard play structures with natural environments.

The diploma thesis deals with the management of the construction of street workout playground in the town of Bojnice. The theoretical part defines the basic concepts of public administration, construction company and communication. The practical part consists of verifying the validity of the five hypotheses by means of a questionnaire, selecting a suitable land and a specific place for future construction, analyzing the Czech and Slovak market with companies dealing with the construction of street workout playgrounds, analyzing the necessary legislation, my own street workout design and comparing three bids from specific businesses. The result of the thesis is a comprehensive background for the management of the town of Bojnice, which will serve to define the funds for this project.

Perception of the physical environment is largely dependent on a range of criteria which are not always readily identifiable. Such a difficulty to identify how a person perceives an environment creates a situation in which architects and designers can easily neglect this idea of the individual user and their experience. Through the design of a preschool, this thesis focuses largely on understanding how children and other users perceive and interact with their environments. The design process employed synthesizes user based research and analysis of environmental cues such as light, sound, and smells and their effect on how we interpret a setting. Investigations into learning environments, educational theories, and sensorial design strategies become tools from which to explore a design methodology. The project itself seeks to understand a process necessary for a meaningful, humanistic design approach for an architecture that benefits and enriches the everyday lives of individuals.

This study was made to determine when and why the program of playground activities began in the elementary schools of Dallas, Texas, and how this program has developed. A study was made of the platoon school system to determine the necessity for supervised play periods, and the influence of this need on the growth of the playground activity programs.

Play is a pivotal part of a child’s life. Outdoor play fosters opportunities for creativity, imagination, social connections, and learned behaviors. There are two types of outdoor playscapes: natural and constructed. Natural playscapes offer sensory stimulation and physical diversity which is critical for childhood experiences outdoors. Through careful design, constructed playscapes can be greened to simulate natural playscapes. Greening is the integration of natural elements and processes in a playscape. Children’s direct social and individual experiences in nature in early to middle childhood during the “developmental window of opportunity” between the ages of three and twelve years help shape their environmental identity and guide their environmental actions. Outdoor play in greened playscapes has a positive effect on children’s social development, motor skill development, attention, and activity level. It also can provide children with experiences in naturalistic landscapes which could impact their morals, values and actions. School yards have the ability to assist in teaching children and act as a safe-haven where parental concerns for safety and risk do not inhibit play. Understanding the relationships between play, experiences in nature, environmental identity, the health, learning, attention, and development benefits of outdoor play, and the evolution of playscape design, a series of guidelines can be created to provide better childhood playscapes. / Master of Landscape Architecture

The increasing presence of digital play experiences has become an undeniable part of many childrenâ s lives. These digital experiences have begun to rival traditional physical play. Even with the introduction of the Nintendo Wii digital and physical rarely cross paths. This masters thesis investigates the design of a play experience that embraces digital experience through the combination of handheld wireless technology and playground experiences. The combination of these elements aims to create a play experience that provides the physical and imaginative aspects of traditional play while utilizing the personal, communication, social, competitive, and graphical informational properties of wireless handheld devices. This thesis documents the research, conceptualization and final development of the Funky Bars and Whirly Bird playground pieces. / Master of Science

Main subject of this work is design of childrens playgroung elements. In this work there is also presented analysis of existent theme. I have designed a few variations, from which I chose the best solution. This solution I worked out in technical, aesthetic and ergonomical aspects. Designed elements match current requirements of safety standards.

Esta pesquisa de mestrado se situa nos estudos de inter-relação do design com a arquitetura, enfocando os equipamentos denominados Academia da Primeira Idade, entendidos como um mobiliário urbano para o público infantil presente e implantado no espaço livre público das áreas de playground, em locais levantados na atualidade na cidade de São Paulo, onde foram realizadas pesquisas de campo com abordagem qualitativa. Com o objetivo de levantar dados sobre como um mobiliário urbano é percebido e entendido por seu público alvo, procurou-se pela visão das crianças usuárias e seus acompanhantes a fim de obter entendimento e diretrizes sobre o espaço e equipamentos para brincar e se exercitar. Foram utilizadas várias ferramentas de pesquisa para captação de dados como: observação não participante, entrevista com acompanhantes no local de uso, storytelling com crianças, além de levantamentos nos órgãos públicos gestores e com especialistas, com enfoque no uso e apropriação pelos seus usuários, verificando aspectos formais, comportamentais e de interação social. Por meio da triangulação de dados foi possível levantar os pontos relevantes na opinião dos stakeholders, agentes envolvidos, gerando conhecimentos para aprimoramento dos espaços e equipamentos existentes, bem como para novos projetos afins. Como principais achados podem ser destacados pontos positivos e negativos citados sobre os equipamentos elencados além de aspectos como proporcionar diversão com segurança, conservação, interação com outras crianças, e outros relacionados às características físicas e de manutenção de espaços bem cuidados, com piso adequado, e dotados de mobiliário complementar, sempre presentes nas narrativas dos pesquisados quanto as suas necessidades e expectativas. Considerando a importância que o brincar tem na formação das crianças, e que experiências e vivências únicas o espaço público pode proporcionar, espera-se que estes dados, considerando a visão e opinião dos usuários, possam servir para melhorar a qualidade dos espaços e equipamentos públicos infantis. / This master\'s research is inserted in the studies of the inter-relation between design and architecture, focusing on what is called Kids Outdoor Fitness Equipment, understood as urban furniture aimed for children and implanted in the public space of playground areas, in places chosen presently in the city of São Paulo, where field research was undertaken with a qualitative approach. With the goal of raising data on how urban furniture is perceived and understood by its target audience, it has sought the point of view of child users and their escorts in order to obtain understanding and guidelines regarding the space and equipment to play and exercise in. Several research tools were used to gather the data, such as non-participant observation, interview with escorts at the site of usage, and storytelling with children, besides collecting data at public agencies and with specialists, with a focus on the use and appropriation by the users, verifying formal, behavioral and social interaction aspects. By means of triangulation of data, it was possible to raise the relevant aspects in the opinion of the stakeholders, the agents involved, generating knowledge for the improvement of the existing spaces and equipment, as well as for new related projects. As the main findings, we can highlight positive and negative features cited regarding the listed equipment, besides aspects such as affording entertainment with safety, conservation, and interaction with other children, as well as others related to the physical features and the maintenance of well cared-for spaces, with adequate flooring, and fitted with complementary furniture, always present in the narratives of the researched as far as their needs and expectations. Considering the importance of play in children\'s growth, and what unique experiences public space can provide, it is hoped that these data, considering the point of view and opinion of the users, may serve to improve the quality of spaces and public children\'s equipment.