Talk about making design both fun and functional! Take a look at this swing that Bruno Taylor installed at a bus stop for an industrial design class. Artist statement and video of the project below.
“71% of adults used to play on the streets when they were young. 21% of children do so now. Are we designing children and play out of the public realm?
This project is a study into different ways of bringing play back into public space. It focuses on ways of incorporating incidental play in the public realm by not so much as having separate play equipment that dictates the users but by using existing furniture and architectural elements that indicate playful behaviour for all.
It asks us to question the current framework for public space and whether it is sufficient while also giving permission for young people to play in public.
Play as you go…”
• See another one of Taylor's projects -- a "bouncing bench" -- here.
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Comments (7)
I think it is interesting that some people who came upon it were much more hesitant than others. Some people tugged at the chains, walked around it, talked about it with their friends and then others just jumped right on! You could almost treat this like a psychological experiment.
Loove this idea. All bus stops should have a swing!
And please no comments about lawsuits, people. It’s all in good fun.
“71% of adults used to play on the streets when they were young. 21% of children do so now."
"please no comments about lawsuits, people. It’s all in good fun."
THEY ARE DIRECTLY RELATED.
Ugh. Nevermind. I personally correlated that percentage statement to the rise of video games as how children play nowadays, not due to lawsuits. My mistake.
I can just see a swing and a person coming at me when I try and walk by a bus stop like this---I can hardly get by
now at a busy time of the day.
I am a college art prof.
That may be playful, but it is a Mess!
Where does the Design part come in?
This looks real lazy to me!
I love it! obvs not practical when crowded at rush hour, but how unexpected and fun!
notice how 99% of the people trying it were women! that says a lot about our culture (how men are probably so tied up in their self-conscious ego that they wouldn't dare look 'silly and childish' in public). this is not an insult to men, it's just a deduction. i for one wouldn't hesitate to hop on (and i'm a woman too!).