C H I L D R E N ‘ S P A R K

QUICK NOTES

• DESIGNED BY: Laurie Olin

• LOCATION: San Diego, CA

• TYPE: Children’s park, public park

• YEAR DESIGNED: 1995

• NOTABLE DESIGN ELEMENTS: Chic, tranquil, juxtaposition

long story short

As a part of Martin Luther King promenade, the Children’s Park

once upon a time

In the stretch of Benjamin Franklin Parkway sits the Barnes Foundation. Originally housed in Merion, Pennsylvania, the phenomenal collection moved to Philadelphia in 2012. The site, previously a children’s jail, was nothing short of a challenge for Olin Studio, especially considering that the Foundation would be moving from a summer estate site to the heart of a busy metropolitan city. While working together with the architect, however, they were inspired by the “modern geometric structure inside and out, a sequence of spaces moving first one way and then another, that flowed into and through each other, that were large and ample, even stretched, were alternated with smaller, more compressed spaces, then back to spaces that give release.”

The Barnes Foundation had become an arboretum for some time prior to its move to the big city. When it came time for plant selection, Olin ensured to include many of the plants that lived on the Merion estate to reflect the history of the foundation. Amongst them one can find Japanese Cryptomeria, Star Magnolia, Korean Dogwood, Winterberry, English Laurel, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Summersweet, Viburnum, Mountain Laurel, Astilbe, Vinca, Fothergilla, Spirea, and Sweetspire.

S O L D I E R S

Otherwise ‘just another ramp’ the absolute kind giants of cedar transport you from one point to the next as you make your way through to the next space. The juxtaposition between the linear simplicity with the vertical complexity is one from tales. Standing as if soldiers protect you from the unknown, they create a unique sense of space that is unlike one anywhere else on this campus. In fact, every space on the grounds of this stunning place is unlike the next, and that is its beauty.

Hugging the building is a row of cedars, seeming to protect the museum with the grandeur and strength they hold. Playing hide and seek as one approaches the corner, one can’t but look up and be in awe of the shape, color, and beauty of the cedars.

P L AY G R O U N D

The current playground at the Children’s Park is nothing reminiscence of what a playground should be; open, free for roaming, and bringing a sense of wonder. Instead, as it stands today, it’s almost an unreliable enclosed space that I’m afraid is projecting an unfortunate image of the world to children who do play here. Surrounded by tall fences on all sides -almost an enclosed room- the bench inside is even chainlinked. Imagine spending your time in here as a child, how would that shape your view of the world?

Sources:

* https://dirt.asla.org/2013/02/05/new-barnes-lifts-up-philadelphia/

** All photos by author unless otherwise noted.