Art for children's feet: colorful play area on Mathildenplatz
03.06.2020 – Over the next two weeks, colorful surfaces in a uniform, harmonious color concept with geometric shapes, inaccurate curves, dots and stripes will be created on a long strip along Mathildenplatz.
Until the artwork is finished, it is protected by a construction fence. Behind it, Offenbach artist Thekra Jaziri has been commissioned by "Besser leben in Offenbach" (BliO), the joint project of the city and Stadtwerke, to apply eight colorful rectangles in a row over an area 65 meters long and five meters wide. She designed this play carpet herself and coordinated it with BliO and the Office for Urban Planning, Transport and Construction Management.
"We refrained from painting prefabricated games such as heaven and hell on the floor," says Sabine Süßmann, head of Besser leben in Offenbach. "We want the children to come up with their own creative ideas for hopscotch or marble games."
Partners support the project
Many Offenbach residents are already familiar with the work of Thekra Jaziri: among other things, she has also designed the long concrete wall on Lämmerspieler Weg and the coal storage area at Offenbach harbor basin. A five-year contract was concluded with her for the upgrading of Mathildenplatz. This includes annual repairs to the street art. BliO is investing around 10,000 euros in the art carpet.
Two partners are supporting the project: Traffeum GmbH, a Dreieich-based company specializing in traffic engineering and urban design, which took on the technical planning together with Thekra Jaziri and recommended special colors from the Oré brand for the implementation. The French company Oré mainly produces paints for road markings, but also special paints for decorative markings.
As the play carpet on Mathildenplatz will be subjected to high levels of wear and tear under children's feet, the planning specialists at Traffeum GmbH, together with BliO and Thekra Jaziri, selected a product that would be as durable as possible. Due to the quality, this would normally be more cost-intensive than less durable colors. The fact that they can still be used is made possible by a cooperation. The company now wants to test whether and for how long the artwork made from its colors can withstand bouncing and running. In return, BliO will receive the special paints at a significantly lower price.
