Restorative Ground

Restorative Ground is a streetscape installation offering a multifaceted landscape of choice, with a range of spatial and experiential qualities to support different individual and collective needs––a new vision for inclusive public space. Nestled within its dynamic geometry are distinct high and low stimulation zones, tactile materials and textures, and calm, contemplative spaces. In the “focused” area, there are large communal tables for individual and group activities. In the “active” area, angled surfaces and metal arches inspire play. In the “calm” area, a large hammock invites people to rest and gaze up through the street tree canopy. Designed to encourage human reconnection and collective healing after months of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the installation transforms the streetscape into an inclusive venue for outdoor gathering, individual respite, and various activities both spontaneous and programmed. Completed in 2021, Restorative Ground is the first built project by WIP Collaborative, a multidisciplinary, shared practice between independent designers who work together on projects that engage communities and the public realm. Inspired by feminist values, WIP centers considerations for local contexts, marginalized groups, collective care, neurodiversity, and embodied experiences in their work. WIP Collaborative formed in 2020 within a larger group of women in practice that came together as a supportive professional community of women in traditionally male-dominated design disciplines. “WIP” stands for both “Work In Progress” and “Women In Practice”, alluding to the constant evolution and flux of collective practice and a call for gender equality in the field. Since Restorative Ground, WIP Collaborative has completed several built public works offering vibrant, inclusive alternatives to the generic, one-size-fits all design of most public environments and new design narratives for just built futures.