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

Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
Tools For Imagination. Photograph by Andy Stagg.
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