Modular elements that grow into playful landscapes. The Hague, 2010 – now
Seascape is part of a long-term study into lightweight foundation and modular design in the public space. With Seascape, an unfurnished schoolyard can easily be transformed into a playground where children can sit, climb and play. It was designed for a number of schools in The Hague and consists of groupings of separate elements, which can be placed and moved as needed. The basic element for this is a miniaturized coastal defense element called ‘tetrapod’: by connecting two tetrapods with a board, a bench can be constructed; filled with garden soil, it becomes a planter; an adapter turns it into an umbrella holder. When stacking the tetrapods, formations reminiscent of mountains or islands can be formed.
When the spatial composition for a schoolyard is determined, the tetrapods can be fixed on the spot by filling them with gravel or water. Filling objects in order to immobilize them is a common principle in civil engineering, for example in creating roadblocks or dikes. The design remains flexible and can be adapted to future developments of the school, such as an extension, and can serve as a temporary solution. The absence of a conventional foundation saves both time and material.
Commissioned by Stroom The Hague and supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL.
