Dominic Tess

How play can animate urban parks

This research inquiry proposes an urban park design for 16 Fencible Drive, Howick, that encourages community engagement through physical activity, aligning with the Howick Village Plan's aim to enhance its community hub. The concept of play is the foundation of this practice-led spatial design, which reimagines urban parks as physical activity environments that foster joyful interactions.

My interest in comic art inspires this proposal with its imagery that illustrates animated lines that correlate with playful elements of movement. The methods of drawing and three-dimensional modelling are used to investigate the techniques of an animated line and how they might fabricate a public space for physical activity. The documentation process consists of site analyses of urban parks across Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand, using photographs to note down any constraints and spatial qualities that respond to the site.