The Richmond Art Center in Richmond, California, commissioned us to rejuvenate an underutilized courtyard surrounding their community center, aiming to encourage after-school activities, weekend events, and community gatherings.

Vision

Our exploration associated with the word “play” creatively utilized a familiar item, the pool noodle, as the catalyst for transformation. Embracing hyperbole, we re-imagined this ubiquitous element in various forms, from basketball hoops to swing sets, teeter-totters, tetherball poles, and bike racks, fostering playful and interactive experiences. Through repetition and reinterpretation, visitors can instantly connect with the space, creating lasting experiential and visual memories day or night.

Features at a Glance

• Custom arches implemented in a variety of scales
• Soft, contrasting colors to enhance visual quality of space
• Design scaled to be seen from street
• Multiple areas of play and respite for users
• Temporary sun shade device as needed
• Green planting zones offer shade and visual softness

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