**4. Transformations of playgrounds in Slovak mass housing estates and current trends**

Open public spaces are spaces intensively reflecting the cotemporary needs of the communities for their use. Public spaces reflect the society and its culture [19]. The new socio-economic conditions after the change of the communist regime have created new demands of the society toward the open public spaces in the mass housing estates, and today, the current requirements continue to transform them [9].

The residential aging of homogenous social structure of mass housing estates, previously composed of young families with children, caused that during the lifespan of housing estates, the demand for amenities like kinder gardens, elementary schools and also playgrounds decreased. Children's playgrounds became underused and fell into decay. The concept of generously designed broad green open spaces, which belonged to the most characteristic features of the mass housing estates, and were used as play areas, had its failings and shortcomings, too. Broad green open spaces suffered problems of maintenance, loss of control, or safety [9, 12].

The last decade of the twentieth century were the years of changing intra-urban patterns, which arose from the various processes conditioned by the political, economic, and social changes symptomatic for the post-socialist or transition period [20]. Since the 1990s of the twentieth century, densification of housing estates by additions of new residential, commercial, or administration buildings, and, as well as, increasing demand for car parking spaces caused losses of green open spaces [9], and also disappearance of children's playgrounds.

Today, the social structure of the mass housing estates becomes again more heterogeneous, what puts new requirements on the design of open public spaces and, as well as, on the regeneration of children's playgrounds and their design to serve adequately to the rising demands of inhabitants. While during the socialist period market with flats did not exist and was limited only to a mutual exchange of flats, after 1990, the emergence and development of real estate market with flats enabled new inhabitants to buy and move in the flats in housing estates, and today, the new generation of young families with children again creates the demand for children's playgrounds.

Many of the former playgrounds which during the previous period fell into decay have been revitalized. However, only in few cases, the playgrounds have preserved their original design structure and the original play elements (**Figure 12**). Today, the original steel playground elements, as for example the popular "Globe," do not fulfill the safety requirements according the current technical standards.

**Figure 11.** Wood and ropes—new materials used in the design of playground elements in the housing estate Petržalka

**Figure 10.** Examples of the play elements used in the playgrounds of the housing estate Petržalka in Bratislava, districts

Háje and Lúky, in 1980–1986, design by Eva Grébertová and Jozef Slíž. Source: Author's personal archive.

the playgrounds of the Petržalka housing estate, districts Háje and Lúky, built in the years 1980–1986 and designed by architects Eva Grébertová and Jozef Slíž (**Figures 10** and **11**).

Open public spaces are spaces intensively reflecting the cotemporary needs of the communities for their use. Public spaces reflect the society and its culture [19]. The new socio-economic conditions after the change of the communist regime have created new demands of the society toward the open public spaces in the mass housing estates, and today, the current require-

**4. Transformations of playgrounds in Slovak mass housing estates** 

(1980–1986), by architects Eva Grébertová and Jozef Slíž. Source: Author's personal archive.

**and current trends**

46 Housing

ments continue to transform them [9].

**Figure 12.** The preserved original steel play equipment, in front the "Globe" and the "Rocket," in the small play area in the housing estate in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

In most of the cases, the old steel play elements have been replaced by new equipment, usually using the former landscape architectural setting and the former concrete elements, as could be seen, for example, in many playgrounds in the housing estate Petržalka in Bratislava (**Figure 13**).

Current examples of the children's playgrounds from Slovak mass housing estates also show that nowadays the typified design of the standardized catalog type elements is used and preferred (**Figure 14**); however, some of them show individual design (**Figure 15**).

Another characteristic feature of the children's playgrounds in the housing estates is that they become in many cases fenced (**Figure 16**). Sand and concrete are not used today, or are used very rarely. Nowadays, mostly rubber surfaces are used for the safety surfacing under play elements (**Figure 17**). In the cases of "natural" playgrounds, usually woodchips are used.

**Figure 13.** The original landscape architectural concept of the playground at the Gessayova Street in the Petržalka housing estate is still readable from the abstract geometrical forms of concrete platforms, which host new play elements. Source: Author's personal archive.

Specific art-design play objects, designed as sculptures, have disappeared from today's playgrounds. The reason is that today, every new play element installed in the playground must meet the requirements of Slovak and European technical standards—STN EN 1176, which determines general safety requirements and test methods for playground equipment and surfacing, and STN EN 1177, which determines impact attenuating playground surfacing and critical fall height. The play elements installed in playgrounds must have either a certificate or

**Figure 16.** The example of fenced and gated playground with typified and standardized play equipment in the housing

**Figure 15.** Some of the typified catalog play elements show individual design, play structure "Ant" situated in the

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courtyard of housing estate Veča in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

estate Veča in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

As noted by Herrington [21], reliance on mass-produced play structures and standardized mass equipment as the primary source of outdoor play has led to playgrounds that do not relate to a community's local environment. Children seek novelty and stimulation and the playgrounds consisting only from repeated mass-produced elements ceased to be an exciting, inspiring places.

declaration of conformity with the norm, what is a complicated process.

**Figure 14.** Typified and standardized play elements are mostly used in the playgrounds—the example from housing estate in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

In most of the cases, the old steel play elements have been replaced by new equipment, usually using the former landscape architectural setting and the former concrete elements, as could be seen, for example, in many playgrounds in the housing estate Petržalka in Bratislava

Current examples of the children's playgrounds from Slovak mass housing estates also show that nowadays the typified design of the standardized catalog type elements is used and

Another characteristic feature of the children's playgrounds in the housing estates is that they become in many cases fenced (**Figure 16**). Sand and concrete are not used today, or are used very rarely. Nowadays, mostly rubber surfaces are used for the safety surfacing under play elements (**Figure 17**). In the cases of "natural" playgrounds, usually woodchips are used.

**Figure 14.** Typified and standardized play elements are mostly used in the playgrounds—the example from housing

**Figure 13.** The original landscape architectural concept of the playground at the Gessayova Street in the Petržalka housing estate is still readable from the abstract geometrical forms of concrete platforms, which host new play elements.

estate in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

Source: Author's personal archive.

preferred (**Figure 14**); however, some of them show individual design (**Figure 15**).

(**Figure 13**).

48 Housing

**Figure 15.** Some of the typified catalog play elements show individual design, play structure "Ant" situated in the courtyard of housing estate Veča in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

**Figure 16.** The example of fenced and gated playground with typified and standardized play equipment in the housing estate Veča in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

Specific art-design play objects, designed as sculptures, have disappeared from today's playgrounds. The reason is that today, every new play element installed in the playground must meet the requirements of Slovak and European technical standards—STN EN 1176, which determines general safety requirements and test methods for playground equipment and surfacing, and STN EN 1177, which determines impact attenuating playground surfacing and critical fall height. The play elements installed in playgrounds must have either a certificate or declaration of conformity with the norm, what is a complicated process.

As noted by Herrington [21], reliance on mass-produced play structures and standardized mass equipment as the primary source of outdoor play has led to playgrounds that do not relate to a community's local environment. Children seek novelty and stimulation and the playgrounds consisting only from repeated mass-produced elements ceased to be an exciting, inspiring places.

should be accessible to disabled users, to be able to play together with others and should provide for the possibility of choosing from a variety of equipment. The playground should offer different game options, should allow the children of different ages to play together, and it should allow to test the children's skills. The playground should accommodate the needs of the community; therefore, the community should be involved in its design, which should be the result of general consensus. The playground should be properly maintained and it should

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Access to playgrounds is an important urban amenity, enhancing the quality of housing and

In the Slovak mass housing estates of the second half of the twentieth century, unique concepts of children's playgrounds have been applied, designed by architects and artist, and inspired by the best European experiences, for example by the landscape design of the Stockholm school, or by the playgrounds of Aldo van Eyck. Design of public open spaces and public playgrounds in the Slovak mass housing estates represented the architectural qualities of the modernism of the second half of the twentieth century, but their main problem was the lack

Today, the trend to use the mass-produced play equipment in playgrounds does not respect the site specifics, reduces the potential of playgrounds to stimulate children's imagination, the trend to fence and gate the play areas, and shift them to specific zones and indoor, and

We would like to thank the Centre for Landscape Architecture of the Faculty of Architecture, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, for providing support for this research, the Faculty of Architecture, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava for financial support,

and to Juraj Illéš, who has contributed to the site research and data collection.

Faculty of Architecture, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovak Republic

[1] Bacová A, Duarte P, Iranmanesh A, Joklová V, Madrazo L, Malovaný M, Nabizadeh S, Ooms T, Rivera O, Scherlinck K, Tijjani Y, Tučný J. OIKODOMOS Housing Concepts. 2011. Available from: http://www.oikodomos.org/resources/housing\_concepts.pdf [Accessed:

allow changes according to the needs arising over time.

of maintenance, resulting from the lack of resources.

Address all correspondence to: kristianova@fa.stuba.sk

reduces the access of children to play.

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

Katarína Kristiánová

**References**

30-03-2018]

living environment.

**Figure 17.** The rubber surface is laid under the typified and standardized mass-produced play equipment in the playground of the mass housing estate in Šaľa. Source: Photograph by author, 2018.

In Slovakia, it is possible to notice also the trend of commercialization of playgrounds [22]. The children's play has shifted from the housing estates and neighborhoods playgrounds to the specialized purpose designed centers, provided by shopping centers, or by profit making organizations. The play often moves also indoor, to play zones of retail outlets, family pubs, restaurants. Parents restrict children to use the neighborhood space around the home, to protect them from perceived social dangers [23], and to regulate where children play. The trend toward transporting children to leisure and a drift from public toward the private provision of opportunities for leisure [22] has become characteristic for playground provision in Slovak urban environment, too.

As technology evolves and becomes smarter, designing playgrounds for interaction with networks of devices has become more challenging, and using mobile phones becomes an important feature of the playgrounds [24]. However, the current trend of intelligent, interactive playgrounds, using advanced digital technologies [25, 26] is not observed, and not used, yet, in the public playgrounds of Slovak housing estates.
