A goal of playful learning led to a full installation designed by Interface Studio and RAIR
The Process: Interface Studio and local recycled-materials artist Billy Dufala of RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency) designed a creative and playful installation that incorporated light boxes discarded from canceled trade shows into a retro-inspired interactive sign that offered bilingual activities to highlight local ecology and create “playful learning” opportunities for kids and their caregivers. The project name was a riff on Orthodox Street, the main road connecting the neighborhood to the future riverfront park.
Results: The project was completed in May 2021 using upcycled materials from Revolution Recovery and reclaimed wood from Pennypack Park. It was one of the recipients of the Play Everywhere Philly playground grants from Kaboom! and funded by the William Penn Foundation. The 10-acre riverfront park broke ground in 2023, and plans are in the works to create a more permanent version of the UnOrthodox pop-up in the near future.