Early March 2020, Helle Nebelong was invited to give a public talk in Istanbul arranged by Superpool for Bernard van Leer Foundation as part of the Istanbul95/Urban95 project: “If you could experience the city from 95cm – the height of a 3-year-old – what would you change?”
Urban95 seeks to answer this question by helping city planners, urban designers, and other urbanists understand how their work can influence child development.
Helle focused on the importance of connecting children with nature and use natural materials in playgrounds instead of artificial turf, rubber surface and fixed equipment. Growing up in a dense city like Istanbul leave not much space for children’s outdoor space and therefore the parks that are already there with wonderful old trees should be combined with natural play elements that stimulate children’s senses, motor skills and opportunities to meet and play with other children using their own imagination.
Helle Nebelong also gave a presentation and joined a three days workshops with landscape architects and other staff from the municipalities of Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep and Maltepe. The workshop took place in Superpool’s office in Karakoy, Istanbul.
Photos: Pınar Gediközer photography
