Urban Toy - a cabinet for play in Copou Park, Iași

Authors’ Comment

Urban Toy emerges as a response to the social needs of young people—and not only—whose current relationship with urban public space is often reduced to transitional crossings and limited public amenities.
The proposed object is a pop-up urban toy, accessible to anyone, whose opening or closing generates different instances and usage scenarios. Ranging from the hermetic quality of its fully closed state, which sparks curiosity, to the generous openings of its doors, the structure has the potential to become both the occasion and the stage for various cultural, social, playful, or restful activities.
Through its dialogue with the public, the object-cabinet becomes a qualitative and friendly space meant to stimulate the community's potential. Moreover, the structure invites interpretation and personalization through its interior cladding, designed as writable and erasable surfaces, which allow for the continuous reinvention of the interior space. In this way, any passerby is welcome and invited to leave their mark on a corner of the city, turning the object into something deeply personal for the community.
In the evening, the cabinet can take on the role of a stage-frame for artistic and musical performances—cultural acts that become framed by the proposed object against the backdrop of the city. In such performances, the urban toy becomes a scenographic element itself, through its mirrored cladding that duplicates actors and lights, and through its walls that can adapt to any scenario.