2024-11-24T01:16:42-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/96643127/finding-playground-potential-in-the-energy-carousel-in-dordrecht Justine Testado 2014-03-31T15:08:00-04:00 >2014-04-07T19:33:52-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/dp/dpjkhkbpg7qp8hfc.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>For a kid, a lifesize light-up spinning top that you can play in right in your neighborhood sounds like a dream come true -- and such is the case in Dordrecht, The Netherlands.</p><p>The Energy Carousel by Madrid-based firm <a href="http://ecosistemaurbano.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ecosistema Urbano</a> is a play structure that is both engaging and educational. As kids grab onto one of the structure's hanging ropes, the kinetic energy released by their movements is stored in a battery, which later serves as supply to light up the structure at night. The carousel's LED lights shine in various colors depending on how much energy was stored during that day.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/ol/oluttxbzz4vzon5c.jpg"></p><p>The Energy Carousel was one of the winning designs in a 2010 invited competition by <a href="http://www.carve.nl/?pm3=20&amp;lg=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carve</a>, an Amsterdam design group that specializes in developing and engineering public spaces for children. Carve asked 10 European firms to design a multi-age sustainable "unconventional play object" to complete the Governeursplein public square in Dordrecht.</p><p>Since then, it seems the Energy Carousel has provided whirls ...</p>