9/9/12

A Change in the Landscape


By Caroline Smith
The many playgrounds, designed by Aldo Van Eyck between 1947 and 1978 are combinations of the most simple, basic elements. At the time, playgrounds were a privilege only the wealthiest children were able to enjoy. Eyck discovered that a child’s mind could be occupied by almost anything by experimenting with his first playground, which consisted of a sand pit, benches, and a simple set of bars. He proved that a child would be inclined to go wherever something interesting might exist. A change in the landscape is enough to provide a stimulating place for a child to grow up in. Relating back to my previous post about Peter Eisenman’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews, Aldo Van Eyck used a process similar to Eisenman’s Deconstructivism to break a basic object into its most simple form. This process however, was more direct, because the result was exactly a playground broken down. Over 700 playgrounds of simple components were placed in neighborhoods all over the Netherlands in order to give children the same joy as those who were members of private playgrounds. The meaning of the architecture became much more efficient after the process of deconstructivism.
However, this distraction is not limited to children’s minds; a change in landscape also captures the attention of adults. This change can be used for a cause, or an awareness that could really make a difference. Agnes Denes’s Wheatfield in Manhattan proves this point, serving as an art piece, the natural landscape in the urban setting of Manhattan was to “call people’s attention to having to rethink their priorities.” Denes broke her cause down to its most simple form, the wheat field itself. She then used architecture as a backdrop in order to change the landscape, gaining attention from all of Manhattan, producing the same effect of a child’s attention to a playground. Because of this small change, people’s lives and values were changed.
Finally, a change in landscape does not always have to be true in order to serve a purpose. The MOMA gardens, designed by Ken Smith demonstrate the power of landscaping to affect people’s emotions and productivity. The gardens are designed for the view of neighboring high rises to look down upon. The water and plants are not real, but an artificial creation of synthetic and recycled materials. This park serves no purpose other than a change in the landscape for those looking down from above. Even nature is deconstructed into simple elements. Cost efficient fiberglass, foam and rubber create the effect of a zin garden, captivating the attention of corporate workers and residents all around. Some refer to the garden as a rooftop treasure, even though it is only an imitation. In this case, aim of the project is only to change the landscape and the most efficient solution was to break down the componets of nature into more simple elements, which are much more cost efficient and maintainable.
These concepts can be well related to our current studio work in redesigning organizational aspects of the city: the public realm and the vertical arrangement. After trying too hard to come up with modern, conceptual design, the best solution is to simplify. A change in the landscape is the most efficient and productive way once again, so by using deconstructivism, the simplest elements for the project will reveal themselves.  Sometimes the more elementary architecture can be, the more powerful and lasting effect it may have.








 http://www.architypesource.com/projects/649-the-museum-of-modern-art-roof-garden/description

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