2019 Edition

URBAN PLAY FURNITURE Play is not only an entertainment but it has functional values too. Ability of play makes us adaptable which is one of the basic skills for living on the Earth. I started the Urban Play Furniture project by doing a research about play in the city, playgrounds and their origin. My aim was to find a contemporary and positive city play equipment which does not exclude any user and reflects the fact that the visual consumers of the form are all who come into contact with it. Old children playgrounds were developed for cities where the space is limited by several factors as traffic, safety regulations, rigid organisation etc. The city has to be very effective so playgrounds were created for effective play. But does there exist something like an effective play? The places where children can play are still decreasing and the idea of “stranger danger” is widespread by media. We can understand playgrounds also in a negative way – they tell us where the play is prohibited! As well as crosswalks are made for drivers not for pedestrians, playgrounds are not made for play. In fact they only reduce the possibility of playing everywhere else because the playgrounds are now the only right places for a play in the city. In my opinion we should rethink playgrounds. And this task will not be only about using nice colours or new attractions but it is more about finding a way how to give the play back to all people regardless of their age or place where they want to play. The first step is to remove borders between current playground and public space around it and blur the orientation focused mainly on children users. I designed elements which can be applied in different urban situations. The collection consists of 3 basic elements: fountain, carousel and tabouret. The main conical surface which is present on all pieces gives objects their own gravity towards their centre. Slight slope provides comfort and specific dynamics even when elements are not moving. Flowing rotation of carousel and tabouret 3/5 provides very relaxing feeling while the fountain is adding motion by using water which is very popular and important for adjusting climate in overheated cities during summer. The design consists of elementary geometry with decent details. I wanted to find a good balance between legibility and freedom of interpretation to build a space for numerous stories, but not for emptiness. I spent all effort not to create a temporary installation for an entertainment or a solution of an individual space but massproduced product accessible to all in terms of democratic design. All elements are meant to be used by a group of users who can interact together and multiply the joy by sharing the play together. I made several prototypes and tested them in a real environment by diverse groups of users. It was interesting how many different ways of use can people find (sitting and laying in varied positions and levels, sunbathing, sliding, balancing, running around, watching stars, sleeping… up to 15 people were using one element at the same time). The project was consulted with many specialists from different branches (psychologists, sociologists, engineers, architects, theoretics…) I also discussed the design with safety certificates company TÜV SÜD and respected all related safety regulations for play equipment. As a material suitable for production I found the most useful the sorted plastic waste which can be shaped by rotomoulding technology. Since the cities are big plastic waste producers their Urban Play Furniture can be made out of that source. Urban Play Furniture is not the final solution for play in the city but a first logical step in a transformation of current playgrounds into new urban public spaces where the play is their integral part. I trust in the positive characteristics of people rather than in creating precautions to prevent negative excesses. The Urban Play Furniture is designed for a city consisting of a multilayered and living tissue, in which the separate urban elements grate upon one another. Play can connect people with different background, opinion, age, religion because play is universal language which is perfect for experiencing and understanding each other. Play has positive impact on building an open and tolerant society.