The Davidson Prize

RWP: Retrofit Water Play proposes a radical shift: instead of sending rainwater straight into drains, estates can channel it into playful, ecological public spaces.

The design reworks rainwater runoff from roofs and hard surfaces so that it flows into a network of rain‑fed channels and shallow streams that emerge across the courtyard during rainfall. As the water moves through the site, it activates a series of interactive play elements, a water wheel set spinning by redirected flows, a vortex bowl where water swirls before draining, and tipping buckets that fill, tilt, and splash, creating moments of shared surprise. These shallow streams incorporate movable blocks and adjustable gates, allowing children and adults to redirect, slow, or pool the water.

These features invite hands on engagement with the physics of water and turn storm events into communal happenings.

All streams lead to a rain‑fed pond that expands and contracts with the weather, forming a dynamic habitat for plants, insects, and birds.

Architecturally, the scheme replaces impermeable surfaces and conventional drainage with permeable paving, rain gardens, and water harvesting systems that reduce runoff while improving microclimate comfort. Socially, it reframes rain as a communal experience, strengthening intergenerational bonds and encouraging spontaneous encounters.

RWP: Retrofit Water Play shows how housing estates can transform necessary water infrastructure into a shared outdoor space full of play and discovery changing the game by building play into the everyday fabric of home.

Team

India Aspin, Lead Architect, India Aspin Studio

Helen Bickford, Education Officer, British Ecological Society