SPADE INTO THE DIRT
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Client: Part of Noël van Dooren‘s PhD. reseach (Academy of Architecture)
Status: Research-design
Year: 2013
Project team: Zuzana Jančovičová, Esther Brun, Els van Looy
This is a design experiment discussing representation of time in landscape architecture. The metaphorical park design (Westerpark extension, Amsterdam), inspired by the growth over time, reflects upon social and natural dynamics within the city organism. The organic use and the expansion of the urban fabric by local residents have become the main triggers of this project.
It all starts with blak canvas. The city is a place where many things happen individually, incoherently and coincidentally. Like a drop of ink spreading out on paper, the process is ignited with a single act which provokes another action by which the meaning of the initial action grows. Different ink drops symbolically represent different activities and interventions of inhabitants taking over tabula rasa. The drops multiply and intermingle together by time. From the single pioneer towards a complex and colourfull community. The book serves as a collection of coincidental ink drop paintings. Each page is complemented by a short sentences reflecting on the possible intervention the added drop represents. The sentences are part of a fictional, but realistic story of one‘s life in neighbourhood.
The hidden beauty of this metaphorical park design project lies in its imperfection and incompletenes. It can be seen as contradictory in comparison with today‘s strict culture of Dutch planning. It can serve as reflection and discussion point against conventional planning proces, because it encourages healthy coincidences and collaborative participation. This combination of features can create a sense of belonging and unity, which are necessary in order to sustain our cities.
