Uthando Legacy Centre Playscape for Afrika Tikkun,

Client: Afrika Tikkum

Landscape Architecture : CottonTree

The Uthando Legacy Centre Playscape was designed for the Afrika Tikkun Organisation as part of their 25^th birthday celebration. The Afrika Tikkun playscape was a bottom-up collaboration with the Afrika Tikkun team guided through a carefully crafted engagement process. A process of workshops with the learners and staff contributed towards the development of the playground aesthetics and the spaces’ learning requirements respectively. The playscape is inspired by the bluebird, a fictional feathered “friend” featured in a song sung by the Uthando ECD learners on their way to the playground. Further workshops with the learners were used to develop each play intervention that are designed to explore the Afrika Tikkun values and concepts relating to the bluebird, including representations of birds, nests and worms as imagined and drawn by the learners.

The result is a unique approach to the design of Uthando Legacy Centre Playscape. It celebrates Afrika Tikkun’s history, values and future in a three dimensional form, rather than using a conventional approach that uses static exhibition panels exhibited within the building. Through the reimagining the concept of playground, it was possible to create a place where the values of the organisation are brought to life through learners’ play, whilst offering visitors a similar experience through a beautiful sculptural playground journey and importantly. It also offers a space wherein we can learn about ourselves, about each other and about the world we live in.

Contact Cottontree – https://cottontree.co/

Contact Afrika Tikkum – https://afrikatikkunservices.com/