As evidenced by an increasingly obese society and an increase in the use of automated over manual modes of circulation stairs, like music, can be boring (recall the blandness of elevator music), decreasing the likelihood of their use and attraction. Unlike the geographical uniqueness of music, however, nearly everyone on the planet is confronted with the banality of stairs. Referred to as "choice architecture" - that which is designed to encourage positive behaviour - it is installations like that above that give hope to a world that is mundane, robotic, and often devoid of excitement. Human behaviour, without question, is one of the most difficult beasts to tame due to its learned, positive/negatively rewarded, and ritualistic repetition. While the more pragmatic aspects of design call upon solutions that aspire to directness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, there is an unforgotten element that is either overlooked or simply ignored - fun!
The same can be said for playgrounds. Do we need any more evidence - other than the stark realities of absent bodies - that our 'modern' playgrounds merely attempting to mimic nature are dysfunctional and breed inactivity? In a world where danger and the "Wilderness of Childhood" has been lost to OSHA-compliant standards and 'modern' Building Codes, and technological advancement has bred laziness and homogeneity, our cities are in need of the bizarre, the unusual, and a dash of danger. The replacement of our simplest and most basic modes of circulation and navigation have been over-thought, and replaced by a trite system of distractions and reservations such as escalators, 'Healthbeat' and 'Natural Elements' climbers, and Chuck E Cheese 'Discovery Zones'. Attempts at increasing speed between A and B and heightening our corporeal sensibilities of play while remaining safe have addressed the wrong design questions. Choice and the ability to manipulate our environment to suit our mood, desire, or simply our need for self-expression have given way to underutilized urban fixtures and lack of an evolving collective memory.
I digress, which brings me back to the reason I got so excited when I was sent the video above. When buildings and environments are designed, space and light are often considered, but what about sound? Music relieves the stress and tedium of the day-to-day commute. An ability to have a part in the creation of that music is exemplary. Why shouldn't we be able to take advantage of our surrounding sonic environment; utilizing infrastructure to enhance appealing sounds and solicit interaction, while using architecture to block undesirable sounds.
Stairs and urban infrastructure play an integral part in our daily lives. Music and the ability to have a say in our environmental interactions has the ability to remove the tediousness and stress of the daily commute. A recent article on the writings of Michael Chabon reveals "childhood is, or has been, or ought to be, the great original adventure". Child or adult, the great adventure through our cities' spaces is best experienced serendipitously, through accumulated local knowledge, and curiosity. We need the bizarre, the slightly dangerous, and most of all the fun to allow us to release our inhibitions, and give us pause for cause throughout our daily lives.
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