Project Name: Skateistan Indoor Skate Park
>> post-conflict design strategy <<
Project Type:
1) urban planning design strategy
6) architecture
7) other: social innovation
Project Mission/Goal:
1) improve the human spirit
3) respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, healthcare, education
4) address humanitarian crises
Project Description:
After two years in the making, Skateistan skate park, Kabuls' largest indoor sports facility, now stands as a testament to a group of national and international individuals who believe in the power of sports to create social change.
Skateistan is the world's first co-ed skateboarding school; it which engages urban and internally-displaced youth through skateboarding provding them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs. The students are selected from all of Afghanistan's diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. They develop skills in skateboarding, skateboarding instruction, healthy habits, civic responsibility, information technology, the arts, and languages.
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The main objective for the skateboarding facility in Kabul is to become an international showpiece. An indoor skateboarding facility of 800m2, was constructed in Khai Khana, in Salang Pass Road, Kabul, where 3000 sq. meters of land had been donated to the project. The design includes outdoor areas where football, cricket and volleyball can be played as well as it being suitable for riding skateboards. The outdoor section also incorporates a playground with ample seating and trees for shade. Where possible, materials were sourced locally, while the remaining materials were imported to ensure a specific quality of construction. IOU Ramps provided the material lists and supervision necessary to build the ramps in an indoor facility. The outdoor section created a public space for all Kabul residents, encouraging citizens of all ages to interact with one other. This facility will operate year-round and will be supervised by international and Afghan skateboarding volunteer instructors.
forward by Michael Jones
Links/Text:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/skateistan-opens-afghanis...
http://skateistan.org/
http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/skateistan
Videos:
SKATEISTAN: TO LIVE AND SKATE KABUL from Diesel New Voices on Vimeo.
Project Details:
PROJECT NAME: Skateistan Skatepark
LOCATION: Kabul, Afghanistan
DATE: 2007–present
ENDUSER: 360 student sweekly
CLIENT: Skateistan, Director Oliver Percovich
DESIGNFIRMS: Convic Design, IOU ramps
ENGINEER: Afghan National Olympic Committee; Afghanyar Construction Company Ltd; Engineer Moheen; Engineer Reza
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: ACCC
SKATE PARK CONSTRUCTION: Andreas Schützenberger, IOU ramps
FUNDERS: Embassy of Denmark; Embassy of Norway; Embassy of Germany; Nike; Architecture for Humanity; Skateistan Denmark, Germany, Poland and USA; various individuals
COST: $617303 USD
AREA: 1800 sq m/19375 sq ft
Nominated by Satu Jackson
