Aldo Bakker invites reflection on objects designed for public outdoor spaces and their longevity. You will be guided in the design of a project for a specific location, such as a bench, shelter, lookout, little free library, or walking sticks.
At the end of the training, participants will have assimilated:

• Knowledge related to design in public spaces
• The specifics of an outdoor public space design project
• The ability to implement a design project based on a location
• The creation of a research journal

Outdoor Design for the Public

Is it conceivable to devise objects/products intended for outdoor public spaces that are embraced, commemorated, and revered? Can they possess fragility? And what about their durability? We are familiar with functionally pleasant instances of vandalism deterrence or safeguarding, many of which soon unveil the arduousness of crafting something enduring and allowing it to gracefully mature.

In addition to conventional products, we can contemplate monuments, lookouts, public libraries, or even complimentary walking aids...?

I perceive the forest as a resource hub where we can procure our materials. Apart from the tree itself, which carries both literal and metaphorical weight, we have branches (for weaving), bark, resin, leaves, grass, soil, and beyond. These elements can also be amalgamated with other materials—undeniably challenging, yet conceivably essential and aesthetically pleasing.

Furthermore, alongside forest trees, urban arbors exist. If afflicted by disease, decay, or windfall, they can assume new forms and life.

You select an outdoor venue: be it a public square, your private garden, or concealed within woodland... The locale shapes your design.

Aldo Bakker, designer

Aldo Bakker explores the senses, challenging perceptions between humans and objects. Despite their calm appearance, his works impose their own rules of interaction, seductive yet independent. A self-taught artist, Aldo Bakker drew inspiration from figures like Luigi Nono, Giorgio Morandi, J.M. Coetzee, and Carlo Scarpa, creating objects that tell their own stories. His unique works or limited series have been commissioned by prestigious brands and acquired by renowned museums. Aldo Bakker has received numerous awards, and his work has been widely exhibited and documented.

We will begin with an exploration of the topic.

• Each participant should bring their own examples to share and develop.
• We will proceed with a stage of sketching and testing with the chosen/found materials.
• By the end of the week, you should achieve a full-scale result.
• If you wish to participate in the next workshop (April 7-11, 2025), you can use the time for reflection and continue to evolve your project.
• From the start, document your steps with photos and words to create a research journal.

Methods (technical and pedagogical tools)

• Workshops equipped with professional machinery, classrooms, and a multipurpose room
• Provision of materials
• Iconography (examples)

• Individual and group interviews
• Research journal
• End-of-training evaluation
• Collective presentation
• Attendance sheet for each half-day
• Certificate of completion issued by Campus MaNa