Climate-Adaptive Playground Renovation at Terbank
The open playground of the Terbank school on Egenhovenweg in Heverlee was in need of a thorough renovation. The playground borders one of the few remaining undeveloped fields on the outskirts of Leuven, nestled along the slopes of the Dijle Valley. A school so embedded in nature should be able to fully embrace and highlight these qualities. The renovation presented a unique opportunity not only to upgrade the school’s infrastructure but also to address water management in an educational way.
Rainwater regulations are not seen as a burden, but rather embraced as a baseline. Here, nature should not be hidden beneath traditional concrete paving but allowed to shape play and claim its space. The architectural interventions for this climate-resilient playground are deliberately minimal after all, not building is still more climate-robust than building.
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With this philosophy in mind, the new playground design was conceived. All rainwater falling on the site can now infiltrate directly into the ground. This includes water from the existing paved surfaces and canopy, as well as from a newly designed playful canopy. Rainwater from the existing school roof is directed into newly created wadis (drainage and infiltration ditches) between the paved playground and the playfield. At the rear of the building, an amphibian pond has been added, collecting water from the back of the roof.
In this way, the school not only upgrades its outdoor infrastructure but also supports sustainable water management for its existing buildings. This on-site infiltration is made educational: children can see the water running through open gutters into the wadis. Large stepping stones through the wadis make the playfield beyond accessible and allow children to interact with the water. The wadis are dimensioned generously, ensuring all water is fully infiltrated within 24 hours, in accordance with regulations.
- Location: Heverlee
- Team: PLUSOFFICE, UTIL structuurstudies, ara atelier ruimtelijk advies
- Client: Directie Vrije basisschool Terbank-Egenhoven
- Photographer: Pieter Rabijns
