**3. Design of play elements in the playgrounds of Slovak mass housing estates in the second half of the twentieth century**

Except the unique art-design elements designed by architects and artists, in the design of playgrounds in the housing estates built during the 1960s and the 1970s of the twentieth century in Slovakia, mostly simple typified and standardized playground elements have been used. Climbers, slides, swings and merry-go-rounds were made of steel, the form of the steel frames was simple, geometrical (**Figures 8** and **9**).

The minimalistic design of metal playground elements used the in playgrounds of the housing estates in the 1960s and the 1970s of the twentieth century in Slovakia, recall the design Children's Playgrounds in Slovak Mass Housing Estates: History and Current Trends http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78384 45

**Figure 8.** The typified merry-go-rounds from the 1970s are still found in the playgrounds—example from the housing estate Juh in Rožňava. Source: Author's personal archive.

**Figure 9.** The popular playground element from the 1970s, called "Globe," was used as a climber and as a merry-goround—example from Trnava. Source: Author's personal archive.

The landscape design of the courtyards included artificial hills, used in the winter for sledge riding and also a unique play element "flying saucer"—unidentified flying object or "UFO,"

**Figure 7.** "UFO" as an art-design play element of the playground area, situated on the top of artificial hill, in the housing

**Figure 6.** Sand area and play elements made of concrete in the playground of the housing estate Medzijarky in Bratislava.

Except the unique art-design elements designed by architects and artists, in the design of playgrounds in the housing estates built during the 1960s and the 1970s of the twentieth century in Slovakia, mostly simple typified and standardized playground elements have been used. Climbers, slides, swings and merry-go-rounds were made of steel, the form of the steel

The minimalistic design of metal playground elements used the in playgrounds of the housing estates in the 1960s and the 1970s of the twentieth century in Slovakia, recall the design

**3. Design of play elements in the playgrounds of Slovak mass housing estates in the second half of the twentieth century**

made by sculptor Juraj Hovorka in 1979 (**Figure 7**).

estate Medzijarky in Bratislava. Source: Author's personal archive.

Source: Author's personal archive.

44 Housing

frames was simple, geometrical (**Figures 8** and **9**).

of the Aldo van Eyck's playground elements—the rectangular and round steel frames for climbing, or the latter like an igloo. Van Eyck's play equipment invited the child to actively explore the numerous action possibilities it provided. He paid special attention, for example, to estimating the proper distances between the bars in his climbing frames. Van Eyck intentionally created abstract play elements that do not have a single meaning and function, but rather they can be used in different ways and stimulate children's imagination [16–18].

The popularity of sand and the use of plain concrete, in elementary abstract forms, as rims of sand pits or jumping blocks, used in the Slovak playgrounds from the 1960s and the 1970s as well as witnesses Van Eyck's strong influence on the playground design of the second half of the twentieth century.

In the 1980s of the twentieth century new materials came to use in the playgrounds of Slovak housing estates—wood, in the form of logs and beams, and also ropes, as for example in

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

Children's Playgrounds in Slovak Mass Housing Estates: History and Current Trends

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78384

47

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

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

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

**Figure 12.** The preserved original steel play equipment, in front the "Globe" and the "Rocket," in the small play area in

safety [9, 12].

playgrounds.

demand for children's playgrounds.

the current technical standards.

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

**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.

**Figure 11.** Wood and ropes—new materials used in the design of playground elements in the housing estate Petržalka (1980–1986), by architects 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**).
