LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/320919
82 Landscape Architect and Specifier News (Continued on page 88) Harvard Kent (Continued from page 80) the ship's masts; they are decorated with nautical flags. The terrace walls were painted to look like the side of the ship. Benches were designed to look like dinghies, and the asphalt was enlivened with painted graphics: a ship's anchor, cod and flounder, mussels, and lobsters – all realistic representations which are proportionally sized to one another. Two ropes with sailors' knots are painted in long lines. The knots are numbered to mark the distances between them, one in feet and one in yards. The playground was previously devoid of any greenery. A variety of ornamental grasses were planted in beds along the side of the ship to represent the tall grasses that one sees along the shore. These grasses are protected by an ornamental mesh fence that is quite transparent to the eye, but protects the plants from children running into them. The dinghies/benches were placed adjacent to the grasses as though the boats had been rowed ashore. The old playground had one large play structure, which was repaired and painted, with a new poured-in-place rubber safety surface installed beneath it. A smaller structure, a net climber, was installed at the opposite end of the playground. It is reminiscent of a ship's crow's nest. The outdoor classroom is located to the rear of and separate from the active play area, and enclosed by chain link fencing. The outdoor classroom at the Harvard/Kent School represents a culmination of lessons learned over the 18 years that the Schoolyard Initiative was active. One of that program's major goals from the beginning was to let urban children experience nature and to learn from it. From this goal, the outdoor classroom evolved into a garden of trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses that represent the New England landscape. The outdoor classroom has a rich palette of native plant material, gathering places, Above The outdoor classroom path is "chip and seal" (asphalt with adhered gravel). The landscaping along the path includes a red maple (left), Witch Hazel (largest shrubs in the back), with Bayberry Myrica and pink New England asters (left). Oakleaf hydrangea and some Black-eyed Susans are right of the path. The wood composite pole supports a weather vane. Right Parents wanted an inviting outdoor space to wait for their children and meet and visit with other parents. The school's old entry led children down steps to sunken space, often playing out of sight of recess monitors. CBA Landscape Architects raised the space up to the grade of the adjacent sidewalk, added a raised planter, planted three honey locust shade trees, sedges (Pennsylvania, Berkeley, Gold Fountains and blue) and grasses (Blue Oat and Hakone). These amenities and brightly colored steel ribbon Dumor benches have humanized the space. It's now a place where parents like to socialize when bringing kids to and from school. Bottom, Right Among the outdoor classroom's educational features is a planter with a root-viewing window. 78-83.indd 82 5/23/14 3:45 PM