A school garden project of the Waldorf lyceum in Prague 4 – Opatov. The desire of the tudents was to establish a new ornamental and relaxing school garden. The garden is gradually formed on the basis of the study and the model that we have created together from modelling clay sculpture. The main shapes and corners of the garden were created on the basis of perception of sensational borders of the space prior the start of the model. The project aims to create a place with a diverse moods. Therefore, the project envisages the elevation terrain modelling, which helps to separate the mood of individual corners.
During the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone, the students spoke on the theme of the four elements, thus connecting with the spirit of place. The aim and purpose of the garden was also stated . Elementary instrumental forces of nature can better orient themselves and help the man to form such situations that successfully lead to the target.
The garden is gradually formed on the basis of the study and the model that we have created together. The conception of the garden follows the seven statues that had already been placed in the garden. They are statues of planets and made of wood, standing in the garden in a large circle. Before we started to create the model of the garden, we had made carefully walk throughout the entire garden space with the students. I led the students to try to feel the emotional boundaries of mood changes in different parts of the garden. The students recorded these emotional boundaries in their sketches in the field. Then participants discussed these boundaries and refined them. It was later used as the the basis for the creation of the garden model. Emotional mood borders help to determine the boundaries of themes of the landscaping, such as direction of travel, gates, beginnings of various nooks and placement of decorative stones. Creation is so in line with elementary beings of the garden.
Finished garden
Creation of the model
It is important to involve as many future users as possible in the design creation. When working on a model, circumstances that one would not take into account will emerge from the work on the model…Based on the consideration of the number of rooms and their orientation to the cardinal, we started to build a model house. The method of working together allows the design process to bring not only the forces of thinking, but also the strength of feeling and will. Each family member brings liveliness and joy into the process of creating the model, feeling the context and building on the work of others. It gradually results in mutual agreement about the creation of the house. All participants are able to mentally connect with the emerging design in a better way. Working with clay during the modelling creates certain calm and concentrated mood. It also attracts the attention of children who perceive the forces of inspiration that enter the process of joint creation.