The design of a conceptual playground which reimagines the idea of play as a form of abstraction, engagement and action within the civic realm. To explore how a playground can become a public space for all ages and a different form of ‘interior’ which encourages new narratives between fellow humans and other species. Given the task of working with platforms, we designed a natural playscape which seems to grow organically out of the surrounding landscape located near a coastline. The unusual space aims to encourage suggestive play through the use of ambiguous, sculptural forms in which people define how the space will be used. These organic forms were inspired by cavernous caves and the very sea creatures that inhabit the tidal pool ecosystem fostered by this structure such as corals, algae and sea urchins. The top of the platform is extremely rough, whereas the bottom is characterized by undulating forms which fluidly intersect. The contrasting surfaces are a study on texture, in which different surfaces are intended to attract different species to inhabit the structure. The inorganic structure and organic habitants gradually develop into a vernacular ecosystem over time, allowing the playscape to be in a constant state of flux. This ecological approach encourages play and understanding across species, both human and other.
The material of plaster imbued with biochar was a defining element of the project, unique in its ability to satisfy the form, texture and ecological aspect of the structure. Biochar is essentially charcoal made through the process of pyrolysis, or the slow burning of biomass in an anaerobic environment. This process sequesters carbon from the atmosphere and contains it in the stable form of biochar, which has numerous environmental abilities such as water purification and habitat for microorganisms. The use of this unconventional material allowed the playscape to become a beneficial intervention along the seaside which educates the public as well.
Type | Urban
Year | 2020
Construction | 300 m
Workshop | Studio Ossidiana
scale 1:1 model
