Poundbury - The Great Field Dorset

Poundbury / England / 2021

Historical buildings in the town recreated as play buildings

The British village of Poundbury near Dorchester in the county of Dorset is a model town that has been under construction since 1993 to implement the principles of sustainable development and design. King Charles played a key role in its conception and implementation, together with the Luxembourg urban planner and architectural theorist Léon Krier. The estate was built on land leased from the Duchy of Cornwall. The overall architectural concept is based on classicist and traditional architecture. The concept includes mixing social housing and private houses in a small-town structure, integrating green spaces and blending the estate harmoniously into the landscape.

On the playground, which Richter Spielgeräte designed together with its British partner Timberplay, historical buildings in the town were recreated as play structures in accordance with the customer's wishes. Specifically, these three buildings were involved: Buttermarket, Whistling Whitch and Brownsword. There are two areas in the playground, one for the little ones and one for older children, which is also interesting for teenagers. The playground was officially opened by King Charles in May 2022.

Children play on the special platform ‘The Whistling Witch’. There is a weather vane on the tower and windows on the sides. Other children are crossing a net tunnel made of natural-coloured ropes. Bushes and trees can be seen in the foreground.

A playground with several play towers, wooden platforms, slides and elements for balancing and climbing. The playground is surrounded by a wooden fence and lots of greenery. In the background are houses and trees under a clear blue sky.

A playground with several play towers, one of which has a slide. There are wooden platforms and also elements for balancing and climbing. Two women are walking up a staircase underneath a net tunnel. The ground is covered with gravel and sand.

A playground with a wooden structure designed like several connected small houses. The structure has windows, doors and roofs with cut-out shapes. Three small children and two adults are playing around the structure.

In the background, angular platform with roof, windows and weather cross on the roof. The platform is connected to a square tower with roof by a net tunnel. A child in a yellow T-shirt crosses the net tunnel. Two triangular platforms connected.

A mother and her child can be seen in the foreground. The child is standing on a rotating disc, the floor is covered with fine gravel. To the right, children are sitting in the gravel next to three jumping discs. In the background is a square tower.

A playground with a wooden structure designed like a row of small houses with pointed roofs and various openings. Two adults are standing to the left of the houses, a child is sitting in one of the houses.

In the foreground is a flower bed with a wooden fence in front of it. To the left is a playground with fine gravel, triangular platforms and an angular wooden structure with windows and a weather cross on the roof. In the background are buildings.

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