Designing Special Education School Gardens as Playgrounds; Aliağa Special Education and Applicatıon Center Playground Arrangement

For school gardens where children with special needs can play and learn safely, there is a need for special environmental regulations that care physical, cognitive, motor, language, emotional and social development and possible individual needs while directing child to play. With this awareness, “Add Color to Our Park Project” has been handled as it focuses on design of school gardens as playgrounds for children with mental disabilities. Playground arrangement of İzmir Aliağa Special Education and Application Center, has been evaluated through the whole process of pre-design, design approaches, design process and post-design as an example realized in cooperation with public, university, school principal and volunteer architect. Theoretical information in design of school gardens suitable for all is given by exemplary in this pilot design. Instead of limitations, the process and method followed in the search for a playground in green, where play participates in everything, where the experience is supported everywhere with play, without barriers, suitable for children of all abilities, accessible and holistic, are presented. The study is important in terms of setting an example for other schools with its design decisions, open space zoning, play elements and architectural elements handled in each zone. As a result, similar projects should be supported in order to transform school gardens into playgrounds that are used effectively in education. The necessity of creating a fair environment for all children by providing public awareness and support was emphasized so that these projects do not remain in the design phase and can be implemented.