A radical playground in 1960s Amsterdam is revealed in a sequence of beforehand unseen photos by German photographer Ursula Schulz-Dornburg. Right here, she picks her favourite images.
Positioned on an island that was solely accessible by rowing boat, Jongensland was one among a number of “junk playgrounds” established after World Warfare II.
The purpose was to foster unbiased considering amongst younger boys by giving them a spot they may make their very own with little or no grownup supervision.
Schulz-Dornburg’s photos – now printed for the primary time within the e-book Huts, Temples, Castles – present the creativity that resulted from giving youngsters this stage of autonomy.
The images, taken in 1969, reveal how youngsters turned discarded supplies into elaborate self-build buildings in a observe often known as ‘junkology’.
Right here, Schulz-Dornburg reveals the considering behind a few of her favourite images:
“This picture provides you the impression that Jongensland was greater than an surroundings that allowed youngsters to develop their minds naturally. It was additionally a free house for boys to roam, experiment and even destroy with out managed supervision, so that they needed to study to take management of their behaviour,” she mentioned.
“Generally there is perhaps battle and damage, however it taught the youngsters easy methods to choose themselves up and study from their actions.”
“Seeing the spectacular buildings that these younger youngsters have made by hand highlights the placing distinction in our tradition as we speak, the place expertise performs an necessary position,” she mentioned.
“I like how this picture highlights the social dynamics amongst youngsters. The boy maintains his outward relationship together with his friends politely, however can also be interested in their non-public lives,” she defined.
“Possibly it speaks to the best way youngsters navigate one another within the post-war interval.”
“Right here we see how the youngsters needed to work collectively to construct their house in Jongensland,” she mentioned.
“It is thrilling to see the form of the construction slowly come collectively, with the youngsters bouncing concepts off one another for the following steps of their building.”
“The creation of Jongensland caused a common change within the understanding that youngsters can obtain something when given undivided freedom and the chance to create and create,” she mentioned.
“I believe this picture captures that.”