Board game A temporary playscape in Bochum's city center

90 planks are laid across the course like a network of narrow bars. The planks run horizontally, dip under each other, are inclined or have gaps that have to be overcome. A place to discover, balance, do sport or linger. A place that is not a playground for us, but a temporary, sculptural playscape that is open to everyone.



OUTPUT LOCATION

One of the largest and most important inner-city squares in Bochum, Husemannplatz, will be completely redesigned in the coming years. The city of Bochum has seen the final phase before the conversion as an opportunity. As an opportunity to re-test the city center as an open space and, specifically, to bring the theme of play in the city center to life with unusual ideas.



OPINIONS

1. we don't want a temporary playground, we want a temporary (play) landscape!

2. it should be a place that arouses curiosity, regardless of age

3. the temporary, the experimental must be visible.



CONCEPT

The starting point of the board game is to break the rigid symmetry of the square. The board game rejects the unconventional axiality and seeks tension in a form that brings a chaotic moment to the square. Around 90 boards are laid across the square like a net of narrow bars. The planks run horizontally, dip under each other, are inclined or have gaps that have to be overcome.

A place that is not a playground for us, but a temporary, sculptural landscape that is open to everyone. And a work that makes the temporary and experimental character visible in its appearance.



TECHNOLOGY

The reconstruction of the square allowed us to screw the base plates of the steel consoles into the granite surfaces. Threaded rods are welded to the plates, to which steel brackets can be screwed to the correct height using sturdy nuts. This allowed a certain degree of flexibility during the construction process to react to the conditions of the substrate. There are a total of 3 different heights for the threaded rods, the maximum height of which, including the board, always remains below 60 cm in order to take fall protection into account. The larch boards are planed, sanded and varnished in a contrasting color on the edges to make them safer to play on and to give the work a strong visual impact in a very heterogeneous environment. A tactile attention strip was stuck around the work to draw the attention of passers-by to the situation.



PROCESS

Together with the various specialist departments of the city, the project was preceded by an intensive process in which the focus was always on making the unusual possible. Over the course of several months, we were able to work together to solve the numerous questions and problems that such a project in a public space entails.

After initial sketches and visualizations, the work was designed in the physical model and then translated into the more detailed planning (site plans, sections and views), which was the basis for the construction.



REVIEW

Juliane von Hagen writes about the "dynamic activity on the simple but convincing Mikado made of wooden walkways" in the garden landscape: "The installation encourages young people in particular to climb, balance and jump. They develop games with their own rules that guide their movements on the board sculpture. (...) Sometimes the breath catches, because stumbling and falling are part of the conquests. But the euphoria of the endless possibilities and challenges drowns out any pain. At peak times, dozens of children play by their own rules at work at the same time. Parcour athletes have established the landscape as a permanent training ground. Teenagers on stunt scooters jump over the installation. Others simply make themselves comfortable on the boards and platforms."

What's more: no serious injuries, surprisingly low maintenance costs and simply no vandalism at all