Assuming city as a playground survey on reclaiming design of some elements in city for responding to children's need of spontaneous play activities in built environment

This thesis study was conducted for urban development and implementation of child-friendly design with considering initial needs of children for having spontaneous play in city wide. Study was conducted based on series of observations on unconstructed children's play in Ankara-Turkey and Tehran-Iran in 2013. Children's reciprocal responses toward physical environment were taken into consideration for setting forth design ideas for further constructions in Kızılay city center of Ankara. As far as play considered as a tool for children creativity, theoretical research has been made to recognize what kinds of play elements would be helpful for enhancing children's creativity through play practice. After All observations, questionnaires and theoretical research and some play ideas for the city scale has been developed, and have been exampled by images. Ideas were included reclaiming design of elements in urban setting in its micro scale such as; bus station, pedestrian bridges, sidewalks and window shops for encountering public especially children with joy of play in immediate environment. Moreover, it was considered as a solution for eliminating children's domain segregation from public space in cities such as Tehran-Iran and Ankara-Turkey. In this study children were considered as infinite citizen of city by responding their needs to play as one of their fundamental and basic rights. Moreover, by reclaiming design of those units it is possible to influence on culture of children's outdoor play,and it would be a tool for creativity and enhancing children's sense of attachment toward their built environment while they have influential social interaction with their parents, caregiver and other society members. Keywords: City, Children, Spontaneous Play Activity, Designed Play Activities, Built-Environment, Design, City Elements, City Attachment, Outdoor Play, Children's Domain, Culture of Play.