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stop! takes a familiar ingredient of the Dutch urban landscape—a schrikhek panel—and reverses its purpose. Instead of stopping or redirecting one’s path, the inspired seating object invites passers-by to rest and interact.
Redesigning the message
Across the Netherlands, an important yet often overlooked element of the urban landscape is the red-and-white aluminium barrier (schrikhek). These barriers notify pedestrians, cyclists, and other users of public space of ongoing construction ahead and require them to stop.
The project turns their purpose around: rather than instructing people to stop or take a different route, it invites passers-by to stop by sitting down and immersing themselves in the moment—having a conversation or simply waiting for a friend to arrive.
The panels used in the project are legitimate and can be used in public spaces. In the future, the designer seeks to collaborate with construction infrastructure providers to reclaim decommissioned or otherwise discarded panels and further expand the collection.
