Tools For Imagination
(2021-)
Materials: Concrete, sand, stone, wood, steel, paint, rubber crumb.
Dimensions: Variable.
Tools For Imagination is a playground for Elmington Estate, South London, featuring carousels, climbing structures and coloured surfaces.
Tools For Imagination draws inspiration from the visionary work of Italian/Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi and Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck, who used play to transform public spaces in São Paulo and Amsterdam respectively into more than 700 playgrounds between 1947 and 1978.
Developed over several months with children and residents, the playground is part of the South London Gallery’s Open Plan programme of collaborations with neighbouring housing estates.
See South London Gallery announcement here
The following people contributed to this project:
Elmington Estate Residents
Johnny Cullinan – Architect
Roger Bunney – EAR Sheppard Consulting Civil & Structural
Tommy Barclay, James Garner, Noah Grosset, Charlie House, Charlotte Squire – Flux Metal
Paul D’Arcy – Gallagher Group
George Costa – Into Services London LTD
George McMahon, Joe McMahon, Sam McMahon – Nemo Productions
Bedir Bekar, Tim Lucas – Price & Myers
Danny Herridge – R.H.Wrought
Lily Goodwin, Arthur Steward, Joseph Wood, Duncan Wright, CNC Factory LTD – Ratio Workshop
Kevin Bell, Neil Blackmore, Lee Crosse, Kevin Galliot, Mark Stead, Trevor Upchurch – Redlynch Leisure
Michelle Lee – Royal National Institute of Blind People
Anna Abimbola, Felix Dean, Jack James, Samantha Lippett, Emily Yendall, Tracy Yendall – South London Gallery
Christopher Campbell – Southwark’s Cleaner Greener Safer Programme
Southwark’s Housing and Maintenance Teams
Stephen Lawlor, Bill Ramage – Urban Canopy
