Montessori in 3D

Craftabile, Italy, 2015

"To design is a game, to play is a project."

 

[Bruno Munari, Italian designer, sculptor and writer, 1907-1998]

bambini, pedagogia, condivisione, 3D, Gioco a incastro, “Montessori in 3D”, Craftabile, Italia, 2015

"But kids, what fault do they have?" How many times have we heard this phrase after yet another history of abuse, or reacting to the unhealthy ostentation of the little ones in some advertising? And then the tragedy of Syria. The Aylan’s picture on the Lesbos beach. And the TV news that show us the boys fleeing alone all over world, from Sudan to Libya, from Sicily to Stockholm... Children traumatized, injured. Maybe forever. From this violent scenario, which is disgusting, emerges every now and then an image of playing in the rubble, or around the tents of Zaatari camp in Jordan, or between the feet of adults lined up for identification, just after landing in Sicilia.

It is a desperate game, an act of pure resistance. They are well aware of this the volunteers and they know it too well certain designers and architects, perhaps remained a bit more children than others... So here they are planning how to turn the boxes of humanitarian aid in toys, like giving a little privacy and dreamy fairytale, transforming the bunk beds of the hostel in fairy castles, or small jungles with lots of lions and elephants.

Globetrotting architects build playgrounds in Lebanon involving children, which will benefit of those areas, in the design and construction process. This makes a difference: it strengthen them, motivates them, and gives them a sense of belonging. They then will take care of it. And that place will heal them, at least a little.
This is always the case, at all latitudes. Other examples in this section look away, but the goals remain the same: in a hospital in northern Europe where a wooden toy tells how not to be afraid of the operating room ... Or in Udine, in a co-working space where they bring out Montessori toys in 3D. Playing builds relationships, bridges distances, it is project, it is sharing. But as great as Munari, nobody!

in this section

- MONTESSORI IN 3D

- NOVEL HOSPITAL TOYS

- TOY BOX, PACKAGING TO PLAY

- ‘RIFÙGIATI’, MICRO-SPACES

- 'IBTASEM' PLAYGROUND