I have wanted to visit and add some brutalist playgrounds to my Beautiful Brutalism project for a long time. I remember playing on a concrete tube we called 'the saddle' at my old primary school and loved it. So have fond memories of these concrete playgrounds.
Unfortunately not many have survived but last November I researched and visited a playground that was still standing down in South Clapham beneath Belgravia House tower block. This was a fantastic playground with a spiral slide and tunnels to run through the hill that housed the slide. It was great to see the playground was well maintained and looked like it was still used. I couldn't resist and have to say the slide was fantastic!
The whole project can be seen here.
Then earlier this year I visited the Aintree Estate playground in Fulham. The two tower blocks, Hartopp Point and Lannoy Point are due to be demolished this year so wanted to visit before access was difficult and the area the playground is situated in changed forever. The playground consists of a concrete maze with a beautiful circle cut out to run through and down some steps a tarmac football pitch with goal posts painted onto the walls. Unfortunately there were some graffiti and parts of the concrete had been painted to make it more 'colourful'. The main structure was untouched with great textures and shapes made by the maze. I spent quite a few hours happily photographing as when first arrived it was quite sunny so great shadows were cast then it clouded over which changed the feel of the playground again. The rest of the photographs can be seen here.
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