The Oosterpark was originally built 1891. In the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, almost all Amsterdam city parks had playful additions designed by the famous Dutch architect Aldo Van Eyck. You can read more about Van Eyck’s designs in the History of Play section. He designed more than 700 public play spaces between 1947 and 1978, and the Oosterpark is one of them.
During the past few decades, many of Van Eyck’s play designs fell into disrepair or disappeared all together. Very few of his paddling pool designs still exist. In 2012, Carve was hired to do a revitalization of this paddling pool. The design aims to keep the existing pool in its original state, while adding an element that respects the scale and shape of the original design. This simple “universal object” does not dictate any specific use, but instead invites all varieties of play. Climbing, running, and sliding are all possible.
While a paddling pool is unlikely to be a part of a school project, the simplicity of this play element is worth considering. Often tremendous play value can be gleaned from an element that invites more open-ended forms of play. This project also provides important lessons in terms of looking at what can be revitalized on the school ground, rather than outright replaced.
