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West Gate Park Project

2013

workshop
lift type,polyethylene tape, pet bottle,wind,light

Photo: Ryohei Tomita

We held a workshop to reimagine a park in the middle of the city where children rarely play, an under-loved park. Surrounded on all sides by tall buildings, there are tall trees lining its perimeter. The result is a small square with sky light above. It's honestly a bit claustrophobic. We tried moving the outer volume to the center, to plant a tree in the middle that reached above, like a maypole, or some similar ceremonial celebratory object, to give a sense of energy and release from any perceived constraints. We invited children to tie colorful tapes to it using an industrial elevated platform. The children made it their own space, they were architects of the new landscape. The colorful tapes dance in the wind, and make noise, hitting each other, and adding dynamism as though this was the new home for a large and vivid new creature.