Designed by Yushan Men and Cullen Fu, Rotating Chalkboards is the winning project of the 5th Yokohama Street Furniture Competition. It is a dynamic and interactive playground structure that combines amusement and education for visitors of all ages. The project is situated in Mizube Plaza along the Ooka River in front of Yokohama City Hall, a popular destination for children which supports cultural and artistic youth activities to stimulate creativity.
Drawing is a common way to express creativity and explore ideas. We designed a chalkboard station that has walls and floors for doodling. Inspired by the drawing game, Exquisite Corpse, the vertical chalkboards are divided into various sizes and can rotate in different orientations, turning the structure into a unique game station.
Because color is an essential element for playgrounds, we used four different colors to form four zones on the platform. These zones rotate around the central bench, which sits on a turntable bearing, featuring a circle notch at the center for holding chalk. The opening above the bench creates a communal space across the four zones, where kids can exchange ideas and tools during drawing workshops. The varied rotations and color combinations make the furniture iconic at the plaza, while the chalkboards serve an educational purpose. When the rotating parts are fixed, the project can be used as a small podium with a colorful chalkboard background for presentation and educational talks. The entire structure is built out of engineered wood, a sustainable and environmentally friendly material. All corners of the panels and frames have been rounded to avoid potential hazard for children.
Blending play with education, Rotating Chalkboards offers a unique and engaging street experience that captivates visitors of all ages and sparks creativity through a special drawing activity.
