True play is not defined or directed, it is adventure and discovery.

Our entry for the RSUA Cityplay competition held in association with JP Corry the proposal seeks to create a place which children can use for play as they see fit, the proposal does not seek to define this play in a restrictive Architecture, but use the existing landscape re-wilded to present opportunities for adventure and self expression.

This proposal, RE-Wild, is based around and beneath the M3 bridge at Queens Quay in Belfast city centre.

The existing landscape is one of poor quality bitmac and broken ground, our first move is to strip this landscape turning over the soil below, provide a thin cover of new soil and spreading wildflower seed over the area to create an urban meadow.

Our second move is to install a grid of planters, these are formed from 1800mm diameter concrete manhole rings lay in a tight grid, into which native tree species are planted.  The pattern is dense to either side of the M3 flyover with it reducing beneath giving way to ground forms, move 3, made of the scraped back bitmac.  

Rather than being taken from the site the removed material is formed up into large angular ground forms.  Three of these forms are to be covered in a flexible play surface, with the remaining forms being covered with topsoil and sown in wildflower, the forms intersect the concrete planters  and the columns of the motor and are formed around them.

The motorway has been utilised as a roof form to create a space to be used for learning events.