Studio Deng reworks The Flatland Horse as eight usable horse forms that visitors can climb, sit on, touch, and walk through rather than admire from a pedestal. Made for the 2026 Seattle Design Festival, it turns a monumental statue into separate plywood silhouettes with everyday functions.
At Lake Union Park, Gate Horse makes an arch that frames the skyline, while Slide Horse bridges four leg frames so children can climb up and slide down. Brown chenille stretched over foam core adds soft, tactile areas to the flat birch structure.
Built for quick assembly, the pair was unbolted after the festival, packed flat, and rebuilt in a courtyard in Issaquah, east of Seattle. That relocation keeps the temporary commission in public use beyond Lake Union Park and shows how the large forms can move between settings.
Image Credit: Studio Deng, designboom, designboom
What's Driving This Trend
- Playable Public Art
- Monumental sculptures with climbable, tactile, and functional elements create new value by merging cultural placemaking with family-friendly urban recreation.
- Flat-pack Installations
- Modular artworks designed for disassembly and relocation introduce more sustainable models for temporary festivals, civic programming, and reusable public-space assets.
- Tactile Urban Furniture
- Soft-touch materials and sit-able forms in outdoor installations expand opportunities for inclusive, sensory-focused environments that feel more approachable than traditional monuments.
Who This Affects Most
- Public Art
- Interactive commissions reshape the field by shifting sculptures from passive landmarks into multi-use community destinations.
- Urban Design
- Moveable play structures and adaptable civic objects support flexible public spaces that can evolve across parks, courtyards, and event settings.
- Experiential Design
- Immersive, hands-on installations blend storytelling, architecture, and play to create memorable environments for festivals, cultural venues, and branded spaces.
