the great welcoming of the CMOA: the Lizziwurm!
more info on the official website http://ci13.cmoa.org/playground
Oh wait, once upon a time there were no playgrounds at all. So, where was the first? Who were the first kids to actually use one?
The Playground Project now displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Art (in the Heinz Architectural Galleries) is a powerful exhibition that can be very interesting and fun for kids, but also very educational for adults (parents, architects, urban planners). Even if the theme could seem, at first, just playful and light, the exhibit immediately presents it in other terms, much more serious. It is a matter of morality and education, indeed.
The "playground" was born in the early 20th century, to keep youth out of the streets. It was at that time that the cities moral agendas started thinking also about public health in terms of recreation. The first public parks were invented and a more healthy urban planning was clearly necessary, also in terms of psychologic health. This was something to add to the basic public health and hygiene systems: clean water, drainage systems and so on. People need also places to relax, to walk, to unwind. The concept of public space was getting wider, and for the first time including also the younger residents of the cities.
The first playgrounds, thus, contained gymnastic structures, pools and sandboxes. The '30s, '40s and '70s saw great examples of playgrounds that made a mark in the history of playgrounds and, it has to be said, in the history of architecture. I think that it is pretty difficult to invent new typologies of spaces; residential buildings, institutions, hospitals, working spaces were developed a long time ago, and in the last decades we added things to structures that were already well established, in their main purposes. The invention of playground was definitely something new, from the very conception of the space (fulfilling new public needs).
The exhibit divides the playgrounds in four main types:
- adventure playgrounds
- landscape playgrounds
- play scultptures
- DIY playgrounds
I don't want to enter too much in the details, leaving you the pleasure to go there and discover in person the wonderful examples presented there. I will just tell you my favorite authors and the projects that impressed me more.
I loved the approach of Joseph Brown, that created structures "shaped by" main needs and desires of kids: running, sliding, jumping. The base of his project was << reasonable unpredictability >>. He was a professional pugilist, but left the box for working with kids. Some of his projects remembered me the ring of that sport.
Being passionate of Japan, I cannot praise the contribution of Mitsuru Senda and the structures based on the traditional japanese house. Porous spaces were the feature of those playgrounds, with a strong relation with nature. Similar approach was presented in the landscape playgrounds by Isamu Noguchi, that doesn't need to be presented. His playgrounds were, on the contrary, emerging from the earth to make it "home". The Japanese approach to space (to live or play) is incredibly natural and magic.
Hon - En katedral is a quite funny project by Niki De Saint Phalle. It is a big pregnant goddess, a sort of cathedral, in which you can enter from her vagina. Inside the goddess, other spaces were designed, such a cafe and a little auditorium. A very interesting playground, for sure!
For the adventure playgrounds, it was interesting to learn more about Carl Theodor Sørensen. He created playgrounds with also some junk from construction sites. Kids could play and build thing on their own.
Last but not least, I think that the exhibition deserves to be seen also because of a book about the DIY playgrounds. It is called "Playground for free" by Paul Hogan. It's a great book with ideas, projects and schemes by Paul Hogan; it is for communities that want to have their playgrounds - out of the typical process that involves institutions (that usually provides very boring playgrounds, highly standardized). Paul wrote about the difficulties that he encountered and gave great advice also in dealing with rules and laws. The book was first published in 1976, by the MIT Press Cambridge, MA and London, UK. It contains great photos (black and white) and very helpful diagrams that could be of inspiration even today.
Pittsburgh is getting more and more full of creativity and enthusiasm, with people trying to improve the city according to their resources. Playgrounds like those presented at the Carnegie Museum of Art will bring for sure new good ideas, learning from these great examples.
Plus... the Carnegie is always a great place to be.
Details of the great past of Pittsburgh,
that should make everyone proud of be a Pittsburgher.
It is a city about innovation, and innovation always comes from the people.
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