PLAY MOUNTAIN

PLAY MOUNTAIN

Isamu Noguchi + Louis Kahn

First Edition

Publisher: Malmo Publications for the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo.
Published: 1996
Format: Softcover
Language: English and Japanese
Condition: Mint

The collaboration between Isamu Noguchi and Louis I. Kahn on the unbuilt Riverside Drive Park Playground (1961–1966) was an ambitious project that fused art, architecture, and urban design. Noguchi, a sculptor renowned for reimagining public spaces, joined forces with Kahn, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, to create an innovative play environment in Manhattan’s Riverside Park.

The proposed playground reflected Noguchi's vision for sculptural, equipment-free play spaces and Kahn's monumental architectural sensibility. Their designs featured a mix of natural materials, sculpted forms, and open spaces meant to encourage exploration and creativity. Despite their combined genius and years of effort, the project faced numerous bureaucratic and financial challenges. The Parks Department imposed budgetary constraints, demanded design revisions, and ultimately stalled the process. Political changes in New York City's administration and a lack of consensus among stakeholders further complicated the project's completion.

By late 1966, mounting legal and fiscal obstacles led to the project's cancellation. Though never realized, the collaboration between Noguchi and Kahn remains a poignant example of their shared commitment to human-centered, transformative public spaces and a testament to the challenges of integrating visionary art and architecture into urban landscapes.

Dimensions: 26 cm x 24 cm.