A Study on the Play Space of Residential Complexesfor Children in Hefei, China

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A Study on the Play Space of Residential Complexes for Children in Hefei, China

Keon-ha Lee and Young-eun Kim

Professor, Department of Architecture, Hanseo University, Seosan, Korea

Full-time Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Bucheon University, Bucheon, Korea

Abstract This study was focused on the new town residential complex in suburban Hefei, China, which was carried out a survey on the present conditions of children's play space. The residential complexes and play spaces in Hefei, regardless of installation, the standards for the installation of play facilities were not provided legally, and the types of installation of the play facilities also were not standardized. For the play space in residential complexes in China to carry out original functions under the condition and become a place of everybody's activities not just for children, the following should be improved:(1) There is no provision and standard for the size of play space, so the standards for installation of play space with safety like Korea, Japan and the US are necessary. (2) The location of the play space should be able to guarantee maximum play activities to children, and the independence of the space should be secured by putting it in a place far from a footpath or pass way. (3) Since children's play space has different properties from those of green space and resting spaces, separate environmental planning is necessary.

Keywords : Play Space, Playground, Hefei, Residential Complexes, Children

http://dx.doi.org/10.5659/AIKAR.2012.14.2.57

Corresponding Author: Young-eun Kim, Full-time Lecturer Department of Architecture, Bucheon University

Simgok 1-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 420-735, Korea Tel: +82 32 610 3300 e-mail : [email protected]

This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant (KRF- 2009-013-D00126) funded by the Korean Government.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is most necessary to understand the present condition of children's play space in the most common residential area of modern urban dwellers. This is since it has the easiest accessibility, and is the play space that can be used always. In the reality of high- rise residential complexes because of the increase of land prices, it is to be checked how much our generation actually pays attention to the environment of children who will become the owners of the future, secures space, and protect them. This is something that children themselves cannot do, and to protect children's play space which is getting decreased gradually in economic logics.

This study tries to understand merits/demerits analyzing the present condition of children's in residential complexes in China in terms of planning and designer. This is also to use it as a basic data for a study of comparison with that in Korea.

This will induce increased attention on children's play space

in Korea to serve as key elements in architecture and urban planning, and at the same time, become a basic data that will arouse directionality and attention to children's play space in China, so that it contribute socially to academic exchange between Korea and China and the improvement of children's play space in China.

This study has the following scopes and methods.The scope of this study was focused on the new town residential complex in suburban Hefei, China, which was carried out a survey on the present conditions of children's play space. For the research method, the bibliographical data on the complex in China was not easy to access or secure, so it was carried out through an actual field survey and survey on the present condition.

2. BaCKgROUND Of ResIDeNTIaL COmpLexes IN ChINa 2.1 Background of Development of residential complexes in China

With the modernization of China, because of the increase of urban populations, residential complexes construction has been done actively, especially, due to the lack of sites and the increase of the urban populations, high-rise residential complexes started to appear in large cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

China cleans site environment in residential complexes according to the active development of cities, plans landscape architecture including green space, and makes efforts to break from traditional models in residential complexes design techniques.

In this context, Heifei, China also carries out constructions actively, especially residential complexes construction is actively carried out recently.

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org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Keon-ha Lee and Young-eun Kim 58

This is connected to the urban construction movement in China:

as the urbanization process got faster, the urban environment got worse day by day and the ecosystem was destroyed gravely so that

"town disease" spreaded endlessly.

This phenomenon threatened the people's health and the cities' steady development. Consequently, after the reform, many cities voluntarily demanded the construction of "garden cities",

"landscape cities" and "grove cities."

According to the demand from each city to construct "grove cities," the Ministry of Construction of China developed the construction activities of "grove cities" nationwide in 1992, and each municipal government responded to them positively.

These activities evoked the urban residents' protection of the urban environment and their passion for loving their cities. The People's Governments in numerous cities set the goal of the construction of grove cities and built many symbolic projects with

"market progress", "public sentiment progress", and "enumeration progress" closely joint with the promotion of the status of the cities and economic development.¹

2.2 Background on City of Hefei

Hefei city is located in Anhui Province of China which is located in the middle of central Yangtze and Huaihe Riverin China so it is important area connecting east and west through the north-south.

Hefei city of Anhui Province among 12 "Grove cities" selected by Chinese government moved views of the park to the city(Borrowed Landscape) by setting the rational scientific spirit, rational and featured plan, the accurate construction and the direction of reform, so it built the open round city park and embodied the ideas of "Essence(jing), Gyo(Qiao), delicate(Xi), unusually (Qi)" in the landscape areas and resolved the problem of afforestation of land by greenning the land by leasing.

The construction of the high-rise residential complexes in Hefei city which was designed and built since the late 2000s has been actively conducting for growing urban population, and urbanization rate amounts to 64.1% in 2009.

Especially, in the case of the residential complexes, a lot of intensive high rise new buildings are increasing, it shows the phenomenon of westernized residential complexes differently with the Chinese traditional co-housing. This study was on the approach and environment about the children's play area in this westernized residential complexes which is provided in China.

3. RevIew Of RegULaTIONs

3.1 The Regulations related to the play space of the residential complexes in China

The play space in China is included as the concept of green within the residential complex.

Green spaceis classified into the public green, green yard and the facilities & green road, and the public green is divided into the central green and green garden by the spatial hierarchy.

"Regulations" provides the kind of play facilities, the minimum rate of green space for planning the public green.¹

Thus, the regulation about the outdoor space related to green spaceof the housing complex in China.² The regulation related to the outdoor space of the housing complex in China was enforced focusing on GB50180-93 <Code of urban residential areas

planning&design> as system of norm which is conducting in China with the building law and fire services act etc. and the additional guidelines for their own situation in each province by areas are enacted and enforced.

Currently this regulation restricts using land in the complex, the density(floor area ratio, building-to-land ratio), the public service facilities, roads & parking, main building placement, and public green space etc.

This regulation of the「Regulation of urban residential areas project design^」 Ministry of Construction(93) Building Standards No. 542 includes the children facilities among the greening rate.

The greening rate is regulated that shouldn't be below 30% of new building nor 25% of old building.

Green spaceincludes the public greens(residential park, small garden, green group), green spaceadjacent to main building, green street and green roof etc. and the greening rate of new town is limited to minimum 30% and the old town is limited to 25% by the quantitative indicators.

The accreditation standards and included facilities of public green was regulated and the indicators per head by population size are suggested. The Green groups is regulated as minimum 0.5^㎡/ person, the small garden(including the green groups) is regulated as minimum 1^㎡/person and the residential park(including the small garden &green) is regulated as minimum 1.5^㎡/person.(Table 1.)

Table 1. Provides various types of public green space set Center

green name

Set content requirements minimum

(㎡/pers) residential

park Landscaped lawns, flower beds, water, a pavilion sculpture, kiosks, cafes, young and old facilities, parking lots and other pavement surface

Should have a clear layout of the function of the park district.

Tour routes and clear

1.5㎡

small

garden Landscaped lawns, flower beds, water, sculpture, children's facilities and pavement surface, etc.

There should be a functional division of the park layout

1㎡

green

groups Landscaped lawn, tables a n d c h a i r s , s i m p l e children's facilities

Flexible layout 0.5㎡

The indicator per person of the public green became relax in the case of redevelopment, the applicable standard in <Code of urban residential areas planning&design> was 50% of the existing indicators and it was changed to 70% in 2002 by being strengthened.

The most of the housing as subject of survey are designed and constructed in the late 2000, and the greening rate is satisfied by 30~40%.

3.2 The regulation related to the play space of the housing complex in Korea

The children's play space in Korea is regulated by the 'Regulations on Standards, etc. of Housing Construction' based on the playground installation standards, it is regulated as the facility for life welfare of the residents in the complex by Housing act, Article II, clause 7.

The residential complexes of more than 50 households shall install the children's playground. However, the proper children's park based on the 'Regulation related to the city park & green'

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59

Facility Scale Area Calculation Minimum area

Children's playground

(Metropolitan/ megalopolis) 50 below 100 households over 100 households 300㎡

total number of households×3㎡ 300㎡+(excess number of households×1㎡) Children's Playground

(City/district) 50 below 100 households over 100 households 200㎡

total number of households×2㎡ 200㎡+(excess number of households×0.7㎡) Table 2. Legal installation standards of children's playground in Korea

which is installed in the residential complexes of below 300 households or close to the residential complexes or the case that the playground is scheduled to be installed until the examination of usage are regulated as the exception.

The summary of the legal installation standard of the children's playground in the housing complex is as follows. (Table 2.)

The method of the test inspection for the general guidelines about the construction of the domestic play facilities was not established so securing the safety of the play facilities was difficult but recently, the Ministry of Commerce legislated and supplied KS³ about five kinds of play equipments installed in the playground such as schools, parks, kindergartens and housing complex etc. or inside indoor.

3.3 Comparison

Korea has been specified by Housing act, Article II, clause 7 based on the installation standards of play space within housing complex, and the play space should be installed certainly except the particular case, but the state regulation or standard were not mentioned still yet in China so it is only mentioned belong to the greening rate of the outer space.

There is the local limitation as Hefei City but considering that it follows the strong legal norms of the central government, the standard about the children's playground, namely the play space are not prepared still yet in China and the study is a part of the residents convenient facilities in the outer space so it can be seen that there is no compulsory of installation.

Table 3. Legal installation standards of children's playground Country Type of play

space Location Area Basis

(area per one child) USA play lot(below 6

year old) 100~120m 6.5㎡/per head 2㎡/per household

minimum 180㎡/per 100 households

Playground

(6~16) 400~800m 24,280~32,370㎡

(1000~1500 household) minimum 250 households 12,140㎡

(12,140㎡+number of households -250÷50)

UK toddler

park(2~5) 100m minimum 120㎡ (3.2㎡)

infancy

park(5~10) 300m minimum 320㎡ (8.1㎡)

boy park(9~15) over 300m minimum 640㎡ (12.2㎡) Japan toddler

park(below 5) visible range from home

300~1000㎡ (0.8㎡)

infancy

park(below 12) no need to be seen from home

1300~4000㎡ (1.0㎡)

boy park

(below 15) separation

from home 2000~5000㎡ (1.2㎡)

The regulations and administrative roles about play space are needed to belong in the building law or landscape law about housing construction, but it is not included in the regulation and the management about the installation is insufficient.

Especially, in the case of the booming housing construction, the plan is changing by the development environment, so if the installation of play space is planned at the beginning but it can be changed later so the strengthening of supervision is necessary.

Looking at the installation standard of the play space by the major countries, the type of the play space, the area & the installation standards and the distance etc. are regulated in detail. Considering the fact that the installation standards are reflected concretely in Korea, the expanded criteria of the simple facilities including the greening rate is needed to be prepared in China. (Table 3.)

4. peRfORmaNCe Of sTUDY & ResULTs 4.1 Overview of Subject of survey

Hefei city is comprised with four City district and three county, and the subject was focusing on total 29 residential complexes at the new town of outside Hefei for investigating the children's play space.(Fig.1)

The summary of the legal installation standard of the children's playground in the housing complex is as follows.

(Table 2.)

The method of the test inspection for the general guidelines about the construction of the domestic play facilities was not established so securing the safety of the play facilities was difficult but recently, the Ministry of Commerce legislated and supplied KS³ about five kinds of play equipments installed in the playground such as schools, parks, kindergartens and housing complex etc. or inside indoor.

3.3 COMPARISON

Korea has been specified by Housing act, Article II, clause 7 based on the installation standards of play space within housing complex, and the play space should be installed certainly except the particular case, but the state regulation or standard were not mentioned still yet in Chi- na so it is only mentioned belong to the greening rate of the outer space.

There is the local limitation as Hefei City but considering that it follows the strong legal norms of the central government, the standard about the children's playground, namely the play space are not prepared still yet in China and the study is a part of the residents convenient facilities in the outer space so it can be seen that there is no compulsory of installation.

The regulations and administrative roles about play

space are needed to belong in the building law or landscape law about housing construction, but it is not included in the regulation and the management about the installation is insufficient.

Especially, in the case of the booming housing construction, the plan is changing by the development environment, so if the installation of play space is planned at the beginning but it can be changed later so the strengthening of supervision is necessary.

Looking at the installation standard of the play space by the major countries, the type of the play space, the area &

the installation standards and the distance etc. are regulated in detail. Considering the fact that the installation standards are reflected concretely in Korea, the expanded criteria of the simple facilities including the greening rate is needed to be prepared in China. (Table 3.)

4. PERFORMANCE OF STUDY & RESULTS 4.1 OVERVIEW OF SUBJECT OF SURVEY

Hefei city is comprised with four City district and three county, and the subject was focusing on total 29 residential complexes at the new town of outside Hefei for investigating the children's play space.(Fig.1)

Figure1. Location of Subject Buildings,Hefei

4.2 ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT

Primarily, the arrangement shape of residential area and outer space are investigated. The play space is a common living space for the intimate relationships between the residents and for communication of the adults and children but a simply outer space, so the significance is needed to be recognized. If the major complex of the various size &

form are arranged, the play space also is needed to be arranged variously.

The installation rate of the play space as the results of analysis by grasping the status of the play space as subject was 55%. However, except the installation of facilities

Children's playground

(Metropolitan/ megalopolis) 50 below 100 households over 100 households 300 ㎡

total number of households×3 ㎡ 300 ㎡+(excess number of households×1 ㎡) Children's Playground

(City/district) 50 below 100 households over 100 households 200 ㎡

total number of households×2 ㎡ 200 ㎡+(excess number of households×0.7 ㎡)

Table 3. Legal installation standards of children's playground Country Type of play

space Location Area Basis

(area per one child) USA play lot(below

6 year old) 100~120m 6.5 ㎡/per head 2 ㎡/per household

minimum 180 ㎡/per 100 households

Playground

(6~16) 400~800m 24,280~32,370 ㎡

(1000~1500 household) minimum 250 households 12,140 ㎡

(12,140 ㎡+number of households -250÷50)

UK toddler

park(2~5) 100m minimum 120 ㎡ (3.2

㎡) infancy

park(5~10) 300m minimum 320 ㎡ (8.1

㎡)

boy park(9~15) over 300m minimum 640 ㎡ (12.2

㎡) Japan toddler

park(below 5) visible range from home

300~1000 ㎡ (0.8 ㎡)

infancy park(below 12)

no need to be seen from home

1300~4000 ㎡ (1.0 ㎡)

boy park

(below 15) separation

from home 2000~5000 ㎡ (1.2 ㎡)

Figure 1. Location of Subject Buildings, Hefei

4.2 Analysis of the subject

Primarily, the arrangement shape of residential area and outer space are investigated. The play space is a common living space for the intimate relationships between the residents and for communication of the adults and children but a simply outer space, so the significance is needed to be recognized. If the major complex of the various size & form are arranged, the play space also is needed to be arranged variously.

The installation rate of the play space as the results of analysis by grasping the status of the play space as subject was 55%. However, except the installation of facilities though, diversification of play equipments, the floor material, safety, safe distance and accessibility were not suitable compared to the standards of the play area at

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home and abroad.(Table 4.)

It can be interpreted that those facts are not considered when planning design of play space in the housing complex in Chinese.

The arrangement shape of the installed play space were block side type, central type etc. and the most of the central type play space was connected to the park plaza or green space in the complex.It has stronger public than the block side type and higher access and utilization than other arrangement type.

The block side type was used by the close residential children relatively and it has a strong personal character.The complexes which is planned as play space were total sixteen, and the play space of six complexes were analyzed.

The water space of the complex was placed in the center by

“Tsinghua University City”, and the connected public green was arranged in the front and back evenly so it supports pleasant outdoor activities for the residents. The kindergarten was arranged around the water space in the middle of complex, so it became a new center by connecting with the water space in the middle of complex.

In the front of the kindergarten, the play space was installed for being shared with the complex but it was made by only one type.

Table 4. Analysis of Outdoor Environment in residential complexes

NO APT. Name A B C (㎡) D (%) E F G H I J K

01 Olin Garden 2009 750 70,000 42 ○ × ○ × ○ ○ ×

02 Yihe Garden 2006 3,500 500,000 34 ○ × × × × ○ ×

03 Zhuangtian 2009 490 550,000 41 ○ × × × × × ×

04 Zhuangteng 2007 490 550,000 41 ○ × × × ○ ○ ×

05 Yihe Yuan garden 2009 3,500 500,000 34 ○ × ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

06 Ideal's homes 2008 416 480,000 35 ○ ○ ○ × ○ ○ ○

07 HuafuHuijin 7 2009 573 170,000 35 × × × × × ○ ○

08 Lotus Pond 2006 485 68,824 43 × × × ○ ○ ○ ×

09 Jun Shang Valley Park 2008 460 65,128 35 × × × × ○ ○ ×

10 Tsinghua University City 2004 91 120,000 40 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

11 waterfront city 2007 1,100 164,287 32 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

12 WenShajie Block 2008 1,046 150,000 40 ○ × × × × ○ ○

13 Time Garden 2002 20 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ×

14 South Xiangyuan 2007 51,400 30 × × × × ○ × ○

15 Cheung spectacular gardens 2007 850 110,000 41 × ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

16 Po Yip City Green Garden 2007 2,880 371,124 40 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

17 Long Court Jiayuan 2009 817 120,000 40 × × × × × × ○

18 BaiZhuangyuan 2009 1,132 150,000 42 ○ × × ○ × ○ ×

19 Chong Jing Garden 2008 1,021 112,577 40 × × × ○ × ○ ○

20 China World Apt. 2007 1,100 96,000 30 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

21 Federal Gardens 2008 101,247 35 × ○ ○ × ○ ○ ○

22 Wen Jing Agile 2006 900 86,500 42 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

23 Gold International City, 2007 210 26,163 38 × ○ ○ ○ × ○ ○

24 Yuan Zhen Xiao Yao Wan 2007 3,000 160,000 50 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

25 Hibiscus gardens 2008 304 40,984 36 × ○ × × ○ ○ ○

26 East China Sea Garden 2009 469 77,438 40 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

27 Cuiwei District Court 2007 991 133,183 41 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

28 Macau Garden 2008 294 27,909 40 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

29 South Jiuxi garden 2008 1,680 260,000 42 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

External Environment Housing Status

The number of installed 19 16 18 17 21 17 21

The number of not installed 10 13 11 12 8 2 8

Note : A:Completion / B:Households / C:Building Area (㎡) / D:Green rate (%) / E:central square (green) / F:Play space / G:Play Facilities / H:Waterfronts / I:sports facilities / J:Rest space / K:Pedestrian separation / Mark : setting ○, none ×

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Therefore the various play activities couldn't be supported and the number of the installation of the playground was only one compared togreen space and outdoor space.(Table 5.)

Table 5. Analysis of Outdoor Space

APT. name Address year of

completion. garden layout Tsinghua

University City

Luyang District, four bus companies Mengcheng

west 2004 Straight type-

Front, Back yard

Site Plan Drawing by Author

Tsinghua University

City

Luyang District, four bus companies Meng-

cheng west 2004 Straight type- Front, Back

yard

Figure2.

The children's play space and the kindergartens are located in the center of residential complexes. It is arranged and planned with the plaza centered in the kindergartens, and it is connected with the landscape space naturally. The pedestrian separation is impossible in some areas.

Picture by

Author Figure3.sports facilities near openspace

Figure4. Play space near Central space

“Cheung spectacular gardens”configures the circular road system passing through south and north, and green space & water space were arranged by connecting in the middle of the complex. The sports facilities are installed besides the play space but the distance is not enough to close so play activities are hindered.(Table 6.)

APT. name Address year of com-

pletion. garden layout Cheung

spectacular gardens

Xiang Yu Road and in cooperation Road inter-

section 2007 Straight type-

Frontyard

Figure5.

There is pedestrian separation. There is a pedestrian road around the water space crossing the center of complex. The play space is arranged in front of the complex, and the rest area is formed around the play space for the protector to observe and manage. The play spaces and sports facilities are attached. There is small area of play space, so play facilities are not various and the distance between the facilities is narrow.

Picture by

Author Figure6. small area of play space

Figure7. sports facilities attached play space

“East China Sea Garden”planned main entrance in the west and north side of the complex, and configures the circular road system passing through east and west.The play space was configured by connecting with the circular road system passing through east and west but children use the central green of complex and yard in the major building as main activity space.

The play areas are placed as two, and one place has two stories structure which is arranged on the upper floor of the parking lot, so access and safety will be degraded. The using rate of the connected sports facilities was observed as low. There was no skip floor of the other place by securing the free space but the whole side was composed by stairs about the access. The rest area and the water space were arranged so securing grip and visibility were excellent.(Table 7.)

pletion. garden layout East China

Sea Garden Chui-mei Road and Pine

Valley Road Interchange 2009 Straight&

Tower type Courtyard Figure 2.

Picture by Author

Figure 3. sports facilities near openspace Tsinghua

University City

yard

Figure2.

Picture by

spectacular gardens

Frontyard

Figure5.

Picture by

Tower type Courtyard Tsinghua

University City

yard

Figure2.

Picture by

spectacular gardens

Frontyard

Figure5.

Picture by

Tower type Courtyard Figure 4. Play space near Central space

completion. garden layout Cheung

spectacular gardens

Xiang Yu Road and in cooperation Road

intersection 2007 Straight type- Frontyard

Site Plan Drawing by Author Tsinghua

University City

yard

Figure2.

Picture by

spectacular gardens

Frontyard

Figure5.

Picture by

Tower type Courtyard Figure 5.

There is pedestrian separation. There is a pedestrian road around the water space crossing the center of complex. The play space is arranged in front of the complex, and the rest area is formed around the play space for the protector to observe and manage. The play spaces and sports facilities are attached. There is small area of play space, so play facilities are not various and the distance between the facilities is narrow.

Picture by Author Tsinghua

University City

yard

Figure2.

Picture by

spectacular gardens

Frontyard

Figure5.

Picture by

Tower type Courtyard Figure 6. small area of play space Tsinghua

University City

yard

Figure2.

Picture by

spectacular gardens

Frontyard

Figure5.

Picture by

Tower type Courtyard Figure 7. sports facilities attached play space

“East China Sea Garden”planned main entrance in the west and north side of the complex, and configures the circular road system passing through east and west.The play space was configured by connecting with the circular road system passing through east and west but children use the central green of complex and yard in the major building as main activity space.

The play areas are placed as two, and one place has two stories structure which is arranged on the upper floor of the parking lot, so access and safety will be degraded. The using rate of the connected sports facilities was observed as low. There was no skip floor of the other place by securing the free space but the whole side was composed by stairs about the access. The rest area and the water space were arranged so securing grip and visibility were excellent.

(Table 7.)

completion. garden layout

East China

Tower type Courtyard

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Figure 8.

There is the central square in the center of the complex, and the footpath connecting to the main building is formed. Green space landscaping and footpath is well organized, and play spaces and sports facilities are installed closely.

Picture by Author

Figure 9. Play space &sports facilities

Figure 10. Water spacearound the play space

“Cuiwei District Court”, the road of circular road system was composed as the circular road system, and the water space was arranged in the center of the complex, and the pedestrian streets and open spaces were configured around. The main footpath of the complex secured a wide space, so it can be used for a rest area as open space.(Table 8.)

completion. garden layout Cuiwei

District Court

Cui Wei Road and ShekKwu Road

Interchange 2007 Straight type-

Frontyard

Figure 11.

The long horizontal axis is through the center of complex, the play space area is placed in one end and the open space is placed in another end.

There is no rest space for the protector around the place space. Not pedestrian separation.

Picture by Author

Figure 12. Play space

Figure 13. Footpaths associated open space

“Macau Garden”arranged the water space of the complex as the central walking axis so connected with around play space, residents rest area and life sports facilities. Green space of the complex were arranged in a linear by combining with the central walking axis.

(Table 9.)

completion. garden layout Macau

Garden Emerald Avenue and

Furong Road Interchange 2008 Straight type- Frontyard

Site Plan

Figure 14.

There is the play space and play facilities in the kindergarten in the complex. The sports facilities are installed with the rest space. The winding water space and green space of wide area around the water space are arranged. The rest area is not linked around the play space.

Picture by Author

Figure 15. play space

Figure 16. Sports facilities are installed with the rest space

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“South Jiuxi garden”arranged the main building on the both sides of the water space which is reminiscent of long waterway in the complex.The center square of the complex is in conjunction with green space so it formed the main work space for the residents but there were no rest facilities so it was planned as only the symbolic square. The main building took place in the straight type and green space of the whole side of the main building formed the combined linear green space so it couldn't be used as open space.(Table 10.)

completion. garden layout

South Jiuxi

garden Furong Road and Pine

Road junction 2008 Straight type- Frontyard

Figure 17.

One play space is in the kindergarten in the complex and the play space of the block side type is installed around the water space.

Pedestrian has been separated. The wide footpath between the main building is connected with around experience green so it can be used for the rest space and the play space.

Picture by

Author Figure 18. Play space next to water space

Figure 19. One type of play facilities

4.3 Comprehensive Analysis

The common residential complexes in China that are the subjects of this research were found to have secured sufficient green ratios according to the numbers of the households and the sizes of the construction areas.

Green squares were developed at the centers, yet sports facilities

and play spaces were not connected to the central squares but were arranged to sides or side footpath.

This seems a trend of preferring the central green square not as community space or participation space, but as garden or observation. For a detailed analysis on the play space in 6 complexes, the planning elements were set to safety, accessibility, diversity and mobility, for which assessment items were set.⁴(refer to Table 11.)

First, Play space was installed in no more than one site regardless of construction area.⁵

The sizes of the play spaces were commonly small. In addition, the play facilities showed no diversity, each having only 1 complex play unit. It is desirable to construct and install diverse facilities according to various age groups that use them.However, in the case of most of the common residential complexes of this research, such a lack of diversity means that the play facilities were installed in a common way because of the lack of a concrete regulation about their installation.

It is also necessary to make distinctions between play facilities and between the areas for play activities, so that children of various age groups can enjoy a single play space together. There was also no standard installation pattern of the paly facilities, and the reason is considered that it was not long since play space had become popularized in the residential complexes in Hefei City.

Second, as for the arrangement pattern of the play spaces in which play facilities were installed, these play spaces were separated from the central movement lines of the complexes and independent of green spaces. This was evaluated, in the mobility item, as not having secured connectivity.

Third, the activities in a play space is related to safety, yet the play spaces were not large enough to secure free movement line in them, thus failing to meet the legal standard concerning the safe installation of play facility. Their arrangements were made without considering proper installation standard and safety of play space, putting emphasis only on play facilities themselves, and the reason seems to be that they were considered as simple play tools rather than play spaces.

Fourth, the play spaces were located at central areas in the arrangements of the complexes, but an analysis showed that there was a somewhat large deviation in the distances from the main buildings. This means that accessibility to the children’s place spaces is relatively bad.

5. CONCLUsIONs

This study attached importance to understanding the state of play environment in residential complexes in China. Interests in community space including play space can enhance the quality of life of residents in the residential complexes, which is related to their economic activities.

Especially, children's play environment in the most common residential space of contemporary urban dwellers may coincide with the importance of children in China.

By the population control policy of China, birth control is still in operation, so for a family, the state of a child got higher. Children may be at a decision-making position upon purchasing a house for the family member.