Children's programme «In The Footsteps of Mischief»
Brief description of the project
Does Funis the Dog have a home? The Imants Ziedonis Museum has come up with a children's programme that invites children to explore the museum's territory with the character of Funis the Dog and solve a series of puzzles, hiding places and tasks based on the motifs of Ziedonis' fairy tales. A house for children with furniture adapted for them and various tasks scattered throughout the territory has been created in the museum's territory. New wooden furniture has also been added to the museum's general leisure facilities. In addition, the garden has been landscaped and a navigation system has been created for easy movement.
Originality and creativity of the idea
By joining forces with a broad team in architecture, design, landscaping, art and children's activity planning, a new children's programme has been created that springs from the image of Funis the Dog (brought to life in the animated series last year) and not only brings children to Funis' home, but also allows them to explore Latvian nature, solve puzzles throughout the museum and spend time in the museum alongside their parents.
Definition of the problem and the relevance of the applied solutions
For many years, the Imants Ziedonis Museum has offered a programme for adults, but until now there were no activities or a separate programme for younger visitors. By creating a separate set of activities, the range of visitors is widened, parents can enjoy the content of the museum undisturbed and children themselves are now the initiators of coming to the museum. To further enrich the programme, the dense development of the Ziedonis Museum was challenging, forcing a respectful integration of elements into the overall complex.
Co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation during the realisation process
One of the most powerful factors of this project was the rich team - from children's programme designers, graphic designers, architects, gardeners, artists, to builders and arborists. By supporting and complementing each other, this project has acquired a deeper and more complete quality than would have been possible if each party had worked independently. In addition to the teamwork, the outdoor furniture was created in a two-day clean-up format by sawing, sanding and painting the benches and benches together.
Functionality and technological solutions
The addition of the Ziedonis Museum furnishings promotes the involvement of the whole area in various activities, increases recreational opportunities and balances the mutual enjoyment of children and adults, both together and individually. All the senses are involved in the experience: in the garden you can taste 7 types of dressing, taste tomatoes and cucumbers, smell sunflowers, listen to Latvian animals at the bird cages and train your eyesight by looking for the main trickster of the programme - the wind. Activities are organised both outdoors and at several points under the roof and there is a signposting system throughout the territory to make it easier to get around.
Aesthetics and other experiential dimensions
One of the most important factors in the implementation of the children's programme in the narrow space of the Ziedonis Museum was the integration of the new building and other elements into the architectural landscape. The Funis the Dog's House refers to the A-frame construction of the other buildings, thus fitting into the group of buildings. At the same time, the yellow shade of Funis the Dog was chosen to promote the visibility of the children's elements, which successfully stands out throughout the site. The additional outdoor furniture and seating elements are robust and painted in the existing raven-coloured linen colour of the site, thus integrating them fully into the overall picture. For an additional visually harmonious image, it was important to make the ensemble of new elements as modular as possible, so that it could adapt to the programme of events. The children's programme included tactile as well as audiovisual and taste and smell elements for a complete exploration of the world.
Economic significance, sustainability and circularity
The new programme is designed in the most democratic way possible, using wood as the main raw material for furniture, activities and the Dog Fun House itself. The trees used for the seating furniture are trees that have been declared dangerous and have been cut down in the area, thus promoting the recycling of materials and also the metaphorical preservation of trees, even at Imants. For the Ziedonis Museum, the extension of the programme means a much larger number of visitors and the possibility to finance the maintenance and development of the activities in the future.
Social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility
As a whole, the image of Funis the Dog, the animation and now this physical space invite children to explore, understand and be proud of the Latvian in its various forms. The museum's programme is designed to be accessible to children of all ages - the youngest can enjoy the home and garden of Funis the dog and the oldest can already guess the riddles. Even children with reduced mobility can access most of the programme throughout the outdoor area. For younger visitors with developmental disabilities, the programme also offers a wide range of sensory stimulation.
