«Mr Bolliger, what does a playground for three generations look like?»

Three questions for Pascal Bolliger, Sales Manager at the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Fund EGK and project manager of the new 3-generation playground in Laufen BL.

Mr Bolliger, what exactly is an intergenerational playground?

An intergenerational playground appeals to all age groups: Grandma can run around with her grandson, while mum makes a fire for the cervelats or completes a course herself. All the games have been developed together with the University of Basel and the Hopp-la Foundation. The Hopp-la Foundation is committed to intergenerational living spaces and is therefore the ideal partner for our playground in Laufen. So nobody has to be bored on the benches!

Pascal Bolliger on a playground where everyone from toddlers to grandparents can let off steam.

What kind of games are these?

For example, there is the patience thread. This is a game for dexterity (see picture above) and patience. Children can practise their balance on a tree trunk, while older people are more interested in prevention: by practising their balance on moving metal discs, they can prevent falls.

What are you - and your children - looking forward to the most?

The thing that excites me the most is the patience. When we tested it with our team, none of the adults managed it without falling off. My children, 3, 6 and 7 years old, are the perfect age for the playground and will probably make a mess of everything - they're certainly looking forward to the water games and the four metre high «Gigampfi».

The redesign of the «Auf den Reben» playground in the small Basel town of Laufen is a gift from EGK to the town as part of the 100th anniversary of the health insurance company, which was founded there and still has its headquarters there today.

More about free play:

  • Mrs Stamm, why do children play so little these days?
  • Off into the forest!
  • Playing without toys - a kindergarten puts it to the test