{How to separate sitting space from play space for kids?} - Submitted by James
{How to separate sitting space from play space for kids?} - Submitted by James
James' backyard, like most backyards, has two personalities. The grown-up needs for entertaining, hanging out and gardening can conflict with kids' independent play and the inevitable scattering of toys. James wants to enjoy his backyard, have more privacy from neighbours but still maintain a kids' play zone.
This outdoor design challenge includes:
- a zig-zag shaped backyard with lots of concrete
- three active boys who love sports and need some hard surfaces to play
- the need to maintain the access through the backyard to the basement apartment for tenant
- allowing intimate dining and kids play to happen side by side
The first suggestion would be to take up all necessary concrete and replace with grass or vegetation to help define the visual separation of the adult zone (green zone) and kids zone (hard surfaces for playing sports). Using the garage as an anchor point, you can build a moveable partition wall that first slides out on a track and includes a rotating half (with multi-directional wheel at the base) that can be folded in both directions to create "rooms". Each side of the wall can be clad with different materials and have multiple functions.
Configurations for the room can include enclosed dining, a room and screen for outdoor movies (adult side) as well as playing/climbing wall, drawing or writing surfaces, and a cabana/fort (kids side). The cladding materials can be subtle and interchangeable, or quite sturdy to endure boisterous play. When the partition wall is tucked back into it's 'closed' position, the kids can have the run of the place.
What functions would you add to an moveable outdoor room?
~Deborah
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