Expressions: When Play is Part of the Plan, All Children Thrive

What if rooms could build relationships, connection, and a love of learning? The Community Room at 2000 Ridge Avenue does just that. PHOTO: DOUGLAS BENEDICT / ACADEMIC IMAGE 

by Heidi Segall Levy, AIA, SEED 

More than 30 percent of Philadelphia’s children live in poverty. Education is the most powerful engine for social mobility and these children often face significant barriers to quality early learning opportunities. 

Live and Learn, a Philadelphia design initiative, has laid the foundation for creating a nationwide model to expand educational equity. 

This pilot tested a novel concept to optimize learning for the city’s most vulnerable children, integrating “Playful Learning” into affordable housing for the first time in the nation. Playful Learning combines the joy of play with goal-driven learning to promote children’s cognitive, social, and emotional growth. When integrated into everyday spaces, it has proven to enhance development and close gaps in school readiness and academic performance. 

Live and Learn created site-specific, interactive environments in two North Philadelphia affordable housing developments. They were co-designed by a multi-disciplinary team of developers, architects, Playful Learning experts, community partners and residents. 

This pilot confirmed that when Playful Learning becomes “part of the plan,” it is impactful, cost-effective and scalable. The initiative envisions a new paradigm that integrates Playful Learning into all future affordable housing design — within all interior and exterior public spaces — to help all children reach their full potential. 

HEIDI SEGALL LEVY, AIA, SEED, is a registered architect with over 35 years of experience in the architecture and design industry, and an associate at Watchdog. She has devoted her career to making design accessible to all and to ensuring the inclusion of community members and end-users in the design of their own built environment. 

To learn more and help Live and Learn grow this concept, visit liveandlearnphl.org.      

Captions:

Run the Road at 2045 Master Street makes the sidewalk into a canvas for wonder and joy 

PHOTO: JAIME SALM, FUTURETOGETHER 

A graphic novel comes to life at Susquehanna Square (2137 N. 15th Street) 

PHOTO: DEREK WESTON FABRICATION STUDIO 

What if rooms could build relationships, connection, and a love of learning? The Community Room at 2000 Ridge Avenue does just that. 

PHOTO: DOUGLAS BENEDICT / ACADEMIC IMAGE 

Green spaces are reimagined as a place for learning and engagement 

PHOTO CREDIT: MASTERS GROUP DESIGN 

An enticing entryway at Susquehanna Square 

PHOTO: DEREK WESTON FABRICATION STUDIO 

An overlooked space is transformed into a natural oasis for play and discovery on 22nd Street between Ingersoll and Master Streets 

PHOTOS: MASTERS GROUP DESIGN