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.
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