Local play or recreation space 1947

Some examples of IRs and variants from the 1947 Architects' Year Book (ed Jane B. Drew).

This is on page 70; a projected plan for an expanded Accra. As you can see, at the heart of the plan is an internal reserve space within a teardrop-shaped block.

Blown up, this is rather difficult to establish as far as projected use is concerned and in fact might almost just be a 'recommended green space of any shape' component:

On page 81, we find amongst the many best-practice examples of Scandinavian planning the following; apartment blocks on narrow lots with occasional prescribed open space areas also regularly allotted. These are not internal reserves but do follow the ideal of regular open space provision for community use. Anyone adapting these principles when planning for single house neighbourhoods would lean towards internal reserve provision...

This is on page 43. Once again apartment blocks are featured but so (presumably) are attached single homes. The mix of domestic and open space is typical of the period. This is put forward as exemplary community-consulted planning.

Coldspring, MD

A 1970s suburb that - like so many in the previous century - was created in part as a residential development which preserved and indeed celebrated open space and heritage buildings. Not much information is available online though there is some here. See it in google maps here.

A few images of open play/recreation spaces throughout the development: