The 'Unusual Football Pitch' project makes use of unused land in the slums of Thailand to create safe and fun public spaces for the teenagers in the surrounding communities.
The idea of building excellent sports facilities to keep kids in impoverished areas away from potentially dangerous activities (like crime or gangs) is not a new one. However, CJ Worx, the agency behind Unusual Football Pitch, noted that the poor areas of Bangkok were so densely packed that building sports facilities would be prohibitive. Instead of simply giving up, though, the agency looked to the small amounts of irregularly shaped space that were available.
Making use of these space, CJ Worx built football pitches that aren't rectangular like official pitches, but still provide a high quality space to play.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Use of Unused Land
- Creating public spaces on unused land to address social challenges.
- Irregular Sports Facilities
- Building non-conventional sports facilities to maximize limited available space.
- Empowerment Through Sports
- Using sports as a means to empower and engage underprivileged communities.
Where This Applies
- Urban Planning
- Incorporating creative solutions for public spaces in densely populated areas.
- Sports Facility Design
- Developing innovative designs for non-traditional sports facilities.
- Social Impact
- Using sports as a tool for social development and community engagement.
