An interactive art installation designed to encourage people of all ages to play is now open at Castle Howard.
Playshapes: Castle Constructors is a large-scale, hands-on installation made from five one-metre coloured cubes that can be broken down into steps, triangles, polygons, cylinders and prisms.
Set out initially in a simple grid, the forms can be transformed by children and
adults into towers, follies and dens, before being reassembled at the end of each session.
See Playshapes in action in our video below, with YorkMix‘s Laura getting stuck in with the fun.
Playshapes is designed by Pippa Hale, an artist and sculptor whose practice centres around social history, geography and play, with previous works at The Bowes Museum, Wentworth Woodhouse and the National Railway Museum.
The installation has been delivered by Timberplay, a leading designer of research-led, play environments with over 25 years of experience creating distinctive play spaces across
the UK and internationally.
The Castle Howard installation is inspired by the stately home’s architect Sir John Vanbrugh, as part of an annual programme of celebrations marking Vanbrugh’s tercentenary year.
Playshapes: Castle Constructors has been installed in the Colonnade area of the House, which is rarely open to the public. This area was destroyed by the catastrophic fire of 1940, which damaged much of the House.
Pippa Hale said: “I’m excited for visitors to experience architecture through play, inspired by the bold imagination of Sir John Vanbrugh. It’s a delight to bring Playshapes to the Colonnade at Castle Howard, which is such a unique location that will most certainly inspire creative play.
“I can’t wait to see what the Castle Howard visitors create!”
Playshapes by Pippa Hale is one of three responses as part of the Vanbrugh 300 celebrations. The exhibition Staging the Baroque: Vanbrugh at Castle Howard, designed and curated by architect Roz Barr, is now open inside the House; and new public sculpture, Library of the Four Winds, created by internationally renowned artist Es Devlin, opens at the Temple of the Four Winds in the Gardens on Saturday 13 June.
Playshapes: Castle Constructors runs until 31 October and is included in Castle Howard admission tickets. For full event listings and to book your tickets, visit the Castle Howard website here.
