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We are Space for Play, we are play space architects with a strong international network of partners, experienced in co-designing spaces to play & meet. We have specialised in turning grey city spaces into climate adaptive, green inclusive play space! to play, learn, move and meet.

1. CO-LEARN

2. CO-DESIGN

3. CO-CONSTRUCT &
CO-PLANT

4. CO-MAINTAIN

Space for Play ontwerpt openbare speelruimte voor iedereen: plekken voor kinderen en hun buurtgenoten, om te spelen, te bewegen, te leren en elkaar te ontmoeten.
Maar niet alleen: we ontwerpen altijd samen met kinderen en hun buurt, met lokale organisaties of architecten.

Onze aanpak::

  1. Co-Learn: We start with a tailor-made participatory process to uncover the needs, dreams and fears, from children and their community. In schools we give climate classes and help teachers in linking their educational vision to the outdoor space. 
  2. Co-ontwerpen: De co-ontwerp sessies met kinderen, ouders en buurtbewoners zijn van groot belang in ons ontwerp proces. We gaan in gesprek tijdens de activiteit en nemen alle input serieus, zo komen we tot innovatieve unieke ontwerp-oplossingen, gedragen door de buurt.
  3. Co-construct: In the co-construction workshops the community is involved in actually building their space for play. Empowerment and ownership guaranteed.
  4. Co-maintain: How do we involve children in the maintenance process after a schoolyard is completed? How do we take children along in taking care of the plants & shrubs, and protecting them? How do we stimulate the magic of being wondered by little insects, seeds or butterflies? If the green surrounding is not integrated within their teaching program, children tend to ignore or even demolish the greenery. Each (pre-)school with a green schoolyard we designed, gets a set of NATURE-HEROES program! With cool caps, a treasure box and a poster in class. Each week 2 other nature heroes will search, wonder, share, care and protect nature.

That is our promise: our green schoolyards work! It’s only by working together that we can make speelruimte die écht werkt voor de hele buurt.

We are a network of Designers for Play. 

When designing and implementing abroad, strong collaboration with local partners is essential for a sustainable successful result.

All projects are done in collaboration with diverse dedicated experts:

Core team

Renet
Korthals Altes

Space for Play Founder
Architect TU Delft, Teacher Pedagogical Acadamy.

The Netherlands & Malaysia

Raquel
Teixeira dos Santos

Architect & Urban Designer
Gender inclusivity, soft city, placemaking

Belgium, Denmark & Portugal

Syaza
Suraini

Design researcher and educator. Leadin Malaysian Learning Spaces (MYLES)

Malaysia

Network

Bo
Bodifée

Urban designer. Founder of Bodifée Design BV

Curacao, Bonaire

Christian
Karagire

Architect at KARA-Architects


Rwanda

Demet
Voûte-Sert

Urban designer.
Founder of Stadstaal

The Netherlands

Emma
van Helden

Architect, Designing for public space at Studio SOMA

The Netherlands

Insaf
Ben Othmane Hamrouni

Architect & Urban planner, participative community design, MENA region

Tunisia & Ireland

Michael
Bacon

Architect & Contractor


St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius

Monica
Ahairwebyona

Architect and Industrial Designer


Uganda

Nancy
Arbogast

Architect at Kindle Architects Limited


Tanzania 

Paulo
Alcocer Miller

Industrial Designer

Mexico

Srivardhan
Rajalingam

Architect & Urbanist Participatory planning, Sustainable mobility, placemaking

India & UK

Thomas
Tiel Groenestege

Product designer, urban designer at Studio SOMA

The Netherlands 

Toka
Ahmed

Sustainability facilitator, urban researcher, Internationa Spatial Development

The Netherlands, Egypt & UAE

Ontwerp


wij transform Grey spaces into Green spaces in Schoolyards and Public Spaces

Participatie


Children are the architects of their space, we co-design with them

Training


We share our design experience with experts, local communities and architects

Publicaties


We complement our design work with research

Presentations


We share our knowledge in conferences with other experts

Where we work

Clients

Organisations who give Space for Play the opportunity to co-create play spaces worldwide. 

Awards

2022
Real Play Challenge, category "Places where play supports climate action": Highly commended project with "Grey > Green = Gold"

2018
Winner of UNHCR innovation award “Co-designed safe play-spaces”