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Gerben Helleman

@gerbenhelleman.bsky.social

190 followers 210 following 870 posts

Posts about the connections between the Planned and the Lived City #playfriendlycities #childfriendlycities #publicspace #cities #outdoorplay #play #childhood #geographer #playspaces #childrensgeographies #urbanism #urbanplanning #citylife #citiesforpeople

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Dec 30

Let’s make more #childfriendly and #playfriendly districts! This model will give you guidance and inspiration. With 💯measures for stimulating active free play in #cities around the world:
urbanspringtime.blogspot.com/playablecities
#publicspaces #outdoorplay #kids #childfriendlycities #playspaces

Children's daily lives are affected mostly by decisions made by parents, teachers and urban planners. Together they influence where, how and how long children play. In recent years, children's outdoor play has declined. For health and pedagogical reasons, it is important that we stimulate outdoor playing. To realize this we need a new approach on public spaces for kids. This approach doesn't start with picking some elements from catalogues of play equipment companies or landscape architects. We should start at the other end by taking into account the bigger picture: the purpose (WHY) and the conditions (HOW) to realize playable cities. Only then, do we know which actions (WHAT) have to be carried out. The purpose is to stimulate outside playing, because it improves the health of kids, enriches their skills and most of all it gives them pleasure (WHY). These higher goals can only be achieved when the right conditions are created (HOW). For example public spaces should be accessible, attractive, challenging, divers and inviting. The different actions and efforts (WHAT) such as design, programming and ordering equipment are a result of these sub goals and not the other way around. In total, I come to 100 measures. Examples of these actions are broad sidewalks, climbing structures, greenery, ground markings, shared spaces and bike racks for kids.
The moral of this story: if we want to realize playable cities we have to consider these three aspects (WHY, HOW, WHAT) continuously and collectively.

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Sara F.L. Kirk @sflkirk.bsky.social · 12d

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city (hint - it's #CarBrain): theconversation.com/cars-versus-... 1/2

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city

Through a long history of prioritizing cars in our cities, we have normalized not seeing or hearing children on our streets.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

ActiveWestminster @activewestminster.bsky.social · 15d

Car Free Day brought new energy to @citywestminster.bsky.social streets 🌍✨

Families celebrated the launch of Play Streets with traffic-free play, cycling & community fun.

Check out what happened & learn how to join the movement 👇
zurl.co/jafbD

#ActiveWestminster #CarFreeDay #PlayStreets

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Outdoor Play Canada @outdoorplayca.bsky.social · 15d

🎉 It’s here 🎉

The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play is officially live!

Packed with new insights, sector-specific recommendations, and grounded in 9 key themes, this updated Statement is your go-to guide for supporting active outdoor play for all! 🌿

www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/aop10/

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · 21d

Love this! Great fan of the #streetart of Seth Globepainter. See also: bsky.app/profile/gerb...

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · May 30

Today a walk through #Paris to see one of my favorite #streetartists: #Sethglobepainter.
Seth has developed a distinctive painting style based on the theme of #childhood. (🦋 1/5)
📸 Butte-aux-Cailles district, Paris
#publicspace #streetart #urbanart #streetphotography
#urbanphotography

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

UCL Institute of Education @ioe.bsky.social · 23d

"The power of play." 🛝⚽️ New research emphasises the importance of designing outdoor play spaces in cities to create community ties and nurture child development.

– from IOE, @uclengineering.bsky.social & @bihr.bsky.social
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/sep/...

Space for play is being ‘designed-out’ of urban childhoods

Children growing up in British cities face barriers to safe, playable spaces as financial constraints, policy misalignment and housing pressures cause planners to prioritise property over parks,

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Social Life Project @sociallifeproject.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

Revisiting the newly restored classic film by William H. Whyte
www.sociallifeproject.org/the-social-l...

@anthologyfilm.bsky.social @placemakingx.bsky.social @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social

#Placemaking #PublicSpace #Urbanism #WilliamHWhyte

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Sep 3

Enjoying #publicspace with friends.
#Waterfront #TheHague #streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky
#urbanism
#landscape #design

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Street Art Utopia @streetartutopia.com · Aug 29

"A mural of the Statue of Liberty in shame" by JDL Street Ar in Lille , Roubaix France 🇫🇷

Mural by JDL Street Art in Roubaix, Lille, France, depicting the Statue of Liberty covering her face with both hands in a gesture of shame. The figure is painted in shades of grey with teal accents on the torch and crown, set against a muted background with a golden halo-like circle. The artwork spans the side of a tall brick building, contrasting modern street art with historic European architecture in the surrounding cityscape.

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Qagggy! @qagggy.bsky.social · Aug 28

Is it possible that…urbanism is a winning strategy in cities?

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Emmet Ó Briain @emmet.quiddity.ie · Aug 24

"The kids get to play out and they haven't got cars interfering with them, and everybody gets to have a good time … People also get to meet each other, neighbours you've probably not spoke to and it's good for the community."

PLAY STREETS:

GOOD FOR KIDS, GOOD FOR COMMUNITIES

👊

John Munro @johnmunro.bsky.social · Aug 24

If it's so positive, which clearly it is, make it permanent.

Stourbridge street closed to traffic to allow children to play

Ruth Blayney said she wanted to encourage kids to get off their phones and play outside.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Jaap Modder @jaapmodder.bsky.social · Aug 21

My #picoftheday

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Vision Zero Vancouver @visionzerovancouver.ca · Aug 20

It was awesome collaborating with @tomflood.bsky.social on this project. So cool to see this up!

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 19

And suddenly the market square in #Delft (The Netherlands) becomes an open-air cinema...
#placemaking #publicspace
#urbanphotography #streetphotography #cinema

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 18

This is the 'Gelbe Affe' (Yellow Monkey) in #Düsseldorf, #Germany. This #mural was created in 2012 by the Majo Brothers, an artistic duo consisting of Marc and Joe Hennig.
#streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#urbanart #streetart
#graffiti #Deutschland

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 16

With a little imagination you can sit anywhere and enjoy your drink and each other.
📍 #Innsbruck, Austria
#streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky
#publicspace
#urbanism
#placemaking
#Österreich

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 15

And if the seating does not fully meet the comfort requirements, you can always help each other... (🧵3/3)
#publicspace #cities #streetphotography #urbanphotography

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 15

With water nearby, you are assured of a pleasant view. And good company always helps, of course. (🧵 2/3)
#publicspace #urbanism #placemaking #urbanphotography
#streetphotography

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 15

#Paris, the City of Love❤️, City of Lights💡, Capital of Fashion👗, City of Art🎨, but in my opinion also the City of #Publicspace🌳. What a wonderful city to sit, relax, stroll, and play guitar...
(🧵1/3)
#streetphotography
#humansofbluesky
@ppsplacemaking.bsky.social
@sociallifeproject.bsky.social

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 13

"Children play anywhere and everywhere" is a famous quote from Colin Ward (1978). An observation that still applies.
#childfriendly #play #children #library #slide #humansofbluesky

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · Aug 10

Inaugurated at the world’s first “Swimmable Cities” summit in May, Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven—once an industrial port on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas River—is now a designated (free) public swimming area complete with a floating pontoon park; the only legal place to swim outdoors in the city centre.

Photographs of an outdoor floating park and swimming area on the banks of the Maas River in the city centre of Rotterdam.

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 9

Risky play is defined as thrilling and exciting activities. It's a type of play where #children test their limits, explore boundaries, and develop valuable skills like risk assessment, problem-solving, and resilience.
#publicspace
#outdoorplay
#riskyplay

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Reposted by Gerben Helleman

Tiago Dias @tiagodf.bsky.social · Aug 4

"Most of the children in our survey said that they aren’t allowed to be out in public at all without an adult. Fewer than half of the 8- and 9-year-olds have gone down a grocery-store aisle alone; more than a quarter aren’t allowed to play unsupervised even in their own front yard."

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones

Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

www.theatlantic.com

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 6

Unfortunately, there is also such a thing as hostile #architecture: an urban-design strategy that uses elements of the #builtenvironment to purposefully guide behavior. Usually to avoid using a particular place in #publicspace. It makes public spaces less accessible & vibrant. 🧵(3/3)
#nonplacemaking

Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 6

Fortunately, the #publicspace in old city centers usually lends itself perfectly to finding an unintended seat somewhere:
often a perfect place to watch other people strolling by.
📍 #Verona, Italy
🧵 (2/3)
#citiesforpeople
#placemaking
#streetphotography
#urbanism
@ppsplacemaking.bsky.social

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Gerben Helleman @gerbenhelleman.bsky.social · Aug 6

When there's not enough seating in #publicspace, people look for other places. Preferably somewhere with a backrest (and thus protection from behind), with a view and in the shade (on sunny days). 🧵 (1/3)
#streetphotography
#urbanphotography
#humansofbluesky #urbanism
@sociallifeproject.bsky.social

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