Recess

JT Bachman and Samuel Orlando

Recess, a respite pod for children is placed in the school yard, and calls to attention the restorative value of play. This project is an outcome of the research project titled Waste Not, Want Not which looks to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill by reprocessing discarded materials and transforming them into either new material prototypes or long-lasting functional objects. The research was funded through a Summer Research Grant awarded from the UVA School of Architecture. The pod was constructed from refurbished scrap wood and PET plastic sheets leftover from when the UVA FabLab was assembling face shield for front line workers during COVID. Mediating interior and exterior, the pod provides children with a quiet space amidst the high energy environment of the playground. The iridescent shingles and slatted facade provide enclosure for the children, while affording visibility for the teachers.