Spaces of Play

Spaces of Play

The practice of play is an exploration into physical, mental, and spiritual engagement with space. The space of play will become much more than setting a setting for this engagement to occur. The place of play should become a character itself. This space, friend or foe, once personified should evoke questions, present problems, and invite conversation. Though no ordinary conversation will occur. The conversation of play will be one of energy and dreams.

Play has an interesting language of verbs and adjectives. Words, such as run, jump, climb, deep, dark, and enclosed are a few, each igniting a sense of experience. This language drives the program within any space where one can be left to make choices and envision possibilities. Yet by simplifying the design of a space to a plan of archetypal forms[1] with considered elements of engagement, the user will become responsible for engaging with the place. This responsibility should not be seen as a burden or set back but as an opportunity. Engaging with aspects of a space is the beginning of building a foundation for one to enter into the conversation with a place. This response to the space encourages one to physically move through, challenges one to mentally solve how, and invites one to subtly imagine and see with their soul. The simplicity of archetypal spaces hosts endless scenarios for a variety of individual responses to each space. Each typology, whether it is the grove, the spring, the path, the cave, or the mountain presents unique spatial qualities.

Though, the core of this concept is ultimately a person in a space. This user must willingly enter into the conversation and open them to experience. Why should one be pushed to react and engage with a place, to imagine? What is the benefit of doing so? In a culture that is hyper stimulated, people have little or no connection to the substance that surround most everyday lives. Imaginative engagement and reactive play will be the seeds for growth within the individual. A space of play should stimulate exploration into physical, mental, and spiritual space engagement while nurturing the growth of the users character.

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[1] Archetypal spatial forms and how people engage with them has been the focus of my curiosity for a few years now. I understand the existence of a poetic relationship with space and the participant. I intend to further this understanding trough my studies and practices.