News release

Immediate release: Thursday, 24November 2005

London Play AGM: challenging play

London Play, the children’s charity which campaigns for a capital where children can play, is pleased to host an international and challenging open seminar, as part of its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 30 November at Coram’s Fields in the heart of London.

Oliver Schulze, public space international consultant at the award-winning urban design company Gehl Architects in Denmark, will contrast ‘People in urban spaces – Copenhagen and London’. Oliver will demonstrate the differences between the two world cities, focusing on quality areas which builders and designers in Denmark have to consider in developing their projects. Oliver’s experience includes an extensive analysis of the public space network in the City of Zürich, advising the local authority in developing suitable tools for monitoring and improving conditions for people in public spaces.

Prof Pat Petrie, from the Institute of Education, University of London, will present ‘From children’s services to children’s spaces’. Prof Petrie argues that how we think about children and their place in society affects the people who work with them and the provision we make for them – and vice versa. She said: “With the invention of new forms of services such as children's centres and the extended school, these issues need further thought. The time is right for re-conceptualising children's services, for giving children greater respect and for recognising them as fellow citizens. More than ever, children and young people's own culture needs high priority.”

There will be a short film about London’s newest adventure playground, introduced by Nick Jackson, director of Haringey Play Association. To end the day, the Children’s Play Council will review the morning’s consultation into it's proposals to the Big Lottery Fund for a support structure as part of the new £155 million Children's Play Programme. The consultation will give the local play sector a unique chance to make their voice heard about the proposed new regional play infrastructure.

[ENDS]

Notes

  • London Play campaigns for more and improved out-of-school play services for children and young people across London, and supports playworkin the capital. Registered charity no. 1104731, company no. 4055882. Contact London Play: tel. 020 7272 2464,
  • Full details of London Play’s 2005 Annual General Meeting can be found here:
  • Oliver Schulze is a senior project manager at Gehl Architects. In his position as public space consultant he has advised international and national private sector developers and other architects on urban regeneration projects in Milan, Kuwait, Sheffield and Nottingham.

Schulze’s recent work in the United Kingdom involved a Strategy Plan for Wakefield City Centre to advise the local authority on public realm improvements. The ambition of the work was to ensure that people’s opportunities to enjoy their city are maximised as large development projects are transforming the City Centre. In Brighton, he is currently advising the city council as the lead designer in the New Road project, where a shared surface for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists is being designed and implemented adjacent to the Royal Pavilion. New Road is seen as a demonstration project in Brighton that will set the benchmark for future public realm work – based on the vision of prioritising people’s needs first in the planning process.

GEHL ARCHITECTS – Urban Quality Consultants is a consulting firm in the field of architecture, urban design and urban planning offering expertise concerning the human dimension in city and site planning. The character and vitality of public spaces are seen as an important key to urban quality. Its planning and design solutions are based on extensive research on how people use public space and experience urban quality. The work is based on the close relationships between well-functioning, well-designed and lively public spaces and people’s perception of quality in cities.

GEHL ARCHITECTS has developed a strong international position as consultant for the public realm and urban quality. The Architecture firm, based in Copenhagen, has worked as consultant in city centre improvements in cities such as London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Riga, Cape Town, Zurich, Amman, Wellington, Dublin, and Edinburgh. In 2005 GEHL ARCHITECTS was awarded the Australian Award for Urban Design for the remarkable revitalisation of downtown Melbourne.

  • Pat Petrie is Professor in Education at the Institute of Education, University of London. She sees the word 'education' in her title as meaning education in its broadest sense: that is, the provision and relationships that support children's development. She has spent many years researching and writing about services for children and young people in the UK and abroad. Her books include: Out-of-School Lives, Out-of-School Services; From Children’s Services to Children’s Spaces, and A New Deal for Children? Re-forming Education and Care in England, Scotland and Sweden. She has made keynote presentations in many European countries, in Australia, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. Her work benefits from a wide-ranging perspective, across childhood and many types of provision. In a book, From Children's Services to Children's Spaces, which she co-wrote with Peter Moss, space (physical and metaphorical) for play is proposed as an essential component of public provision for children.

London Play, 89 - 93 Fonthill Road, LondonN4 3JH
Tel / text 020 7272 2464 Fax: 020 7272 7670