Client: Cardiff City Council
Consultants: Celfwaith
Project Associates: Steve Almond, Machfab Structural

Park design for Anderson Field Cardiff 2007-09. We where commissioned to collaborate with landscape architect Ian Maddox on the overall design of the new park. Our task was to make the flat open space, used primarily by dog walkers and rarely used by children to play, into a flexible park and play area. The commission was to also design and create bespoke creative, non-prescriptive play structures. Anderson park is now a safe social space well used by all members of the community.

For everyone who has lived in the areas surrounding Anderson field, this open space has a strong place in their memories as a place to meet greet, play and previously, work. We where conscious of considering the space with all ages in mind, not just the young. This precious area of public space had to retain and improve upon its many functions in this respect, both obvious and subtle.

The general ethos behind the design approach was to bring a sense of visual intrigue and practical pleasure through developing interesting places within the same well-known area. Consultation with the community developed a strong ethos to create sculptural forms using quality materials within the landscape that are not easy to immediately take in at a glance and that reveal themselves over time or through physical engagement with the space.

Developing more intimate areas had to be balanced with making the area safe to use, getting this balance right became the main challenge throughout the whole design process. The concept forms, structures, platforms, levels and planting, where intended to encourage non-prescribed play.