Re|claiming normal:

connecting

post–pandemic

Ottawa Architecture Week: Festival of Design and Imagination is an annual week-long festival that welcomes everyone to explore architecture, urbanism, art and design in Ottawa. It is presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA) with the help of local volunteers and businesses.

The theme

City of Play: Fun in the Capital?

Ottawa Architecture Week invites you to immerse yourself in a captivating exploration of the transformative power of play within the realm of architecture. Beyond mere entertainment or recreation, the concept of play in architecture embodies a dynamic and multifaceted approach that emphasizes the inherent potential of built environments. It embraces curiosity, imagination, and risk-taking, fostering creativity and innovation throughout the design process and resulting spaces. By prioritizing the human experience, playful architecture creates environments that inspire joy, promote social interaction, and enhance well-being. This year's theme, "City of Play: Fun in the Capital?" celebrates the integration of play within Ottawa's urban fabric, showcasing how the interaction between people and spaces can create lasting connections and enrich the quality of life for individuals and communities alike.

What is play?

Play is a voluntary, self-motivated activity that is engaged in for its own sake, without any particular end goal. It is a fundamental part of human development and is essential for physical, emotional, and social well-being. It involves exploration, experimentation, and imagination, and it often involves some degree of risk-taking or challenge. Play can take many different forms, such as physical play, social play, imaginative play, and creative play.

The idea of play, when applied to architecture, encompasses a dynamic and multifaceted approach that recognizes the transformative potential of built environments. In the context of architecture, play goes beyond the notion of mere entertainment or recreational activities. It embodies a philosophy that encourages the exploration, experimentation, and imagination within the design process and the resulting spaces. Play in architecture involves creating environments that inspire curiosity, engage the senses, and invite interaction. It embraces the idea of risk-taking and challenges conventional norms, fostering a spirit of creativity and innovation. Playful architecture seeks to captivate and delight users, provoking a sense of wonder and joy. It prioritizes the human experience, promoting social interaction, well-being, and a sense of belonging. Ultimately, the integration of play within architecture enriches the built environment, encouraging people to engage actively with spaces, fostering connections, and creating memorable experiences that enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities.

Where do we play?

The built environment provides spaces that have been designed to foster recreation and play. The success or failure of these spaces is often judged by the intensity of their use by the public. Conversely, marginal spaces, which were never designed to serve this function, can become frequented by a community of users who may subvert the original intent of the space by appropriating it as a location for play.

The concept of "where we play" in relation to architecture and the city's built environment explores the diverse range of spaces that facilitate and encourage playful activities. Beyond dedicated playgrounds, the built environment provides a canvas for playful interactions throughout the city. Parks and green spaces offer opportunities for physical play, while vibrant streetscapes and pedestrian-friendly areas invite social play. Adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings or vacant lots can transform them into unexpected play spaces, showcasing the ingenuity of architecture in repurposing urban elements. Interactive public art installations and temporary pop-up structures add an element of surprise and playfulness to the urban fabric. Even traditional architectural elements like staircases, benches, and plazas can become impromptu stages for spontaneous play. The successful integration of play within the city's built environment lies not only in purposefully designed spaces but also in the ability of the community to reclaim and repurpose marginal spaces, transforming them into vibrant locations for play. The city's built environment, when thoughtfully designed and embraced by its residents, becomes a boundless expansive playground that fosters creativity, exploration, and a sense of connection among its inhabitants.

Why play?

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on incorporating play elements into public spaces, intending to make them more engaging and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The incorporation of play into a city’s public spaces is not just about providing entertainment and recreation; it is also about promoting social interaction and community building. In a post-pandemic world, weaving elements of social interactions in urban spaces is more important than ever. When people come together to play, they form connections and build relationships that transcend age, gender, and cultural barriers. Play can also help to reduce stress and promote mental health, which is particularly important in today's fast-paced and demanding world. This trend has been driven by a growing recognition of the importance of play for human development and well-being.

The exploration of why we play within the context of architecture and the city's built environment reveals the profound impact that play has on our physical, emotional, and social well-being. Play goes beyond mere entertainment; it is a fundamental aspect of human nature that is intricately connected to our development and happiness. Architecture plays a crucial role in creating environments that support and encourage play. By incorporating playful elements into the design of public spaces, architecture promotes social interaction and community building, offering opportunities for people to connect and form relationships that transcend societal barriers. The city's built environment becomes a catalyst for play, providing spaces that invite exploration, imagination, and experimentation. In today's fast-paced and demanding world, play offers a respite from stress and a means to promote mental health. Architecture, through its thoughtful design of playful spaces, can create opportunities for relaxation, joy, and the release of creative energy. By embracing the notion of play in architecture and the city's built environment, we acknowledge its essential role in fostering human connection, well-being, and the enrichment of our daily lives.

How do we engage play?

Architecture, planning, landscape design, and other related fields have an important role in determining how the spaces and places within our city may act as the catalyst or the backdrop for these urban interactions of play. The design process behind these spaces can itself rely on a form of play as it devises and tests successive iterations and forms. Exploring how we play within the context of architecture and the city's built environment unravels the dynamic and interactive nature of play experiences. Architecture plays a pivotal role in shaping the ways we engage in play. It provides the framework and infrastructure that enables various forms of play to unfold. The design of playgrounds, recreational facilities, and parks offers opportunities for physical play, inviting individuals to climb, swing, and explore. Beyond designated play areas, the city's built environment presents endless possibilities for spontaneous and imaginative play. Urban elements such as benches, plazas, and staircases become impromptu stages for social play, encouraging interactions and creating moments of joy. Additionally, the integration of interactive art installations, urban games, and augmented reality experiences into architectural design amplifies the potential for playful engagements. Through thoughtful design, architecture can establish a sense of flow and connectivity within the urban fabric, fostering a playful narrative that encourages exploration, discovery, and a sense of wonder. By embracing the diverse ways we play in the built environment, architecture enhances our daily experiences, ignites our creativity, and nurtures a vibrant and playful cityscape.

Let’s ask ourselves these questions through different events planned during Ottawa Architecture week:

• Does Ottawa offer playful spaces to its residents?

• How should Ottawa incorporate elements of play in placemaking?

• Can Ottawa, being the capital city, distinguish itself from other Canadian cities through playful urban spaces?

• Are citizens engaging or willing to engage with playful spaces?

• What design strategies can be employed to incorporate elements of play in the placemaking process in cities beyond Ottawa?

• How can playful spaces in Ottawa be designed to cater to the diverse needs and interests of different age groups and cultural backgrounds?

• In what ways can Ottawa leverage its unique cultural heritage and history to create playful urban spaces that reflect its identity as the capital city?

• What lessons can be learned from other Canadian cities that have successfully integrated playful elements into their urban fabric, and how can Ottawa differentiate itself in this regard?

• What role can technology play in enhancing the playfulness and interactivity of urban spaces in Ottawa?

• How can the concept of play be integrated into the planning and design of transportation infrastructure and public transit systems in Ottawa?

• What are the potential economic benefits of investing in playful urban spaces in Ottawa, such as increased tourism, community vitality, and business growth?

• How can partnerships between the public sector, private organizations, and community groups be fostered to collaboratively design and maintain playful spaces in Ottawa?

• What educational and awareness initiatives can be implemented to encourage citizens to embrace and actively engage with playful spaces in Ottawa?

• How can the festival serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among architects, designers, urban planners, and community members to collectively envision and create playful urban environments in Ottawa?

Let’s start the conversation.

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About ORSA

Ottawa Regional Society of Architects is a non-profit volunteer organization that represents the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) within the community. ORSA works to raise the profile of the architectural industry and has given voice to the local architectural profession for over 100 years.

ORSA Membership includes registered members of the OAA, as well as people involved in related industries. ORSA also welcomes members of the general public who have an interest in architecture and want to further their involvement in the architectural community.

ORSA is committed to presenting an informed opinion on issues affecting architecture in the National Capital Region, as well as to increase public awareness of the social importance of architectural design.

For more information, visit the ORSA website.