The Museum as a Playground
Multi-faceted and cross-generational perspectives of play
Our final session for the year focussed on play in the cultural sector. Play is for everybody – it connects spaces, material, people, ideas, and values, and engages us with the broader environment around us. Freedom, authenticity, and invitation were reoccurring themes, with play as a vehicle to bridge people across cultures and generations and to help us reframe how we see the world.
Thank you to our speakers Takaharu Tezuka (Tezuka Architects), Dr Eve Guerry (Chau Chak Wing Museum), Tamara Harrison (Sydney Opera House) and Alex Tam (The Play Depot) for an informative, inspiring and uplifting finale to our 2021 season.
We would like to take this opportunity to share some wonderful feedback from John Worthington MBE, Co-Founder of DEGW on our GLEAM 2021 series:
“GLEAM 2021 brought a ray of gentle light to a year of uncertainty and possibilities. The thoughtfully created six monthly presentations differed from many events hosted by design practices in that they focused on place and people and the contribution of others. Over the six months, through thoughtful curation, the series became a kaleidoscopic collection of insights for each participant to reflect on and make their own.
Hayball by celebrating others, exposed their interests and values, and whilst sharing their experiences reflected the generosity of the practice. The themes and content of the series captured a moment of change, reflection, and opportunity. The virtual symposium, with participants and presenters from Australasia and Europe, introduced a diversity of voices and means of inclusive communication that reduces the need to travel and ethically managed to build understanding and trust across borders.
As a participant from Europe, living in an increasingly adversarial culture, whilst championing a culture of sharing and caring, the acknowledgment of the traditional peoples and their land, given with genuine commitment at the beginning of every session gave me hope of the role that architecture can play in championing justice for all.”
Recommendations:
Play! Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Chau Chak Wing Museum, Sydney, Australia
Centre for Creativity, ABC News article and ABC news video, by Sydney Opera House
The Play Depot, Hong Kong
Learning by Design (Play focused) AIA-CAE DIALOGUES magazine, Issue 05 – Fall 2021, by Natalia Krysiak and Fiona Young
Cities for Play, by Nataia Krysiak
The Playability of Playgrounds: What do the children think?, by Natalia Krysiak and Fiona Young
Enjoy the short video trailer, and if you are interested in this session, you can request a full recording by filling out the submission form below.