Isamu Noguchi's Playscape Analysis

Some might claim that parks are places where people go to see nature rather than art. It is simply an open space for recreation that normally requires a low level of maintenance for trails, picnic areas, and benches. Art is expected not to be touched and playgrounds are built for children to run and climb all over them. Therefore a combination of art and play areas do not seem to blend well together however, Noguchi’s Playscapes managed to accomplish contemporary art in a regular park space. His playscapes were influenced by his own adventurous childhood including the experiences he had with landscape. Noguchi's wish in developing his playscapes was to possibly lead the public to appreciate the art of sculpting. His vision and designs reveal art and humanity through play. Isamu Noguchi's philosophy is simple: rather than dictating play activities, the structures he developed will encourage imaginative interactions. "Kids can climb, swing, and roll around in the Playscape’s spiral tower, play cubes, and modernist geometric structures with integrated slides and …show more content…
It was an unofficial model for a playground built entirely out of the shaped earth. Noguchi's "Play Mountain" focused on a stepped ziggurat-like form that dropped into a wide chute at the back, "curving around an amphitheater before arriving at a sloped pool at its foot. (Judah)" During the summer times, Noguchi imagined children would go down on this slide right into a pool of water. When winter comes around, he envisioned them sliding down on toboggans. Unlike the customary furniture you commonly see on playgrounds like swings, slides, and seesaws, Noguchi's playscape ideas were considered to promote improvisation and productive interaction in the community. With no fence around "Play Mountain", children would have complete freedom to move around this artistic play scheme. This playscape was considered