PLAYWORKS: ERIN BYRNE

The Institute of Play:
An Architecture of Play & Playfulness

Lobster Telephone

Salvador Dali, 1936

Herbert Read, one of the founders of the ICA, has said in 1947

"Such is our ideal- not another museum, another bleak exhibition gallery, another classical building in which insulated and classified specimens for a culture are displayed for instruction, but an adult play centre, a workshop where work is joy, a source of vitality and daring experiment."

In response to my own definition of play I propose my final Diploma project to be a conceptual refurbishment of the current ICA and Carlton House Terrace as it was originally conceived, a 'Playground for the Arts'... a multivalent facility for cultural activities, art and leisure: a play centre for everyone. Thus it will be a new proposition which houses, provokes and embodies the literal and phenomenal characteristics play & playfulness in both its architecture and inception.

"An activity is play if it is fully absorbing, includes elements of uncertainty, involves a sense of illusion or exaggeration, but most importantly, true play has to exist outside of ordinary life. Play’s purpose is to generate more possibilities for play."

Johan Huizinga, Homo Ludens: The Playing Man

The new 'Institute of Play' will be a place to play but will also be generated through playing. For example I will play 'consultation games' with visitors and staff through PLAYWORKS, but also the site and existing building will become 'objects of play' making the my project a 'product of play' in itself.