Journal

SPACES: PARKS

Written by Heath Killen | 23/01

Spaces is an exercise in curiosity about communal living and domestic activity. Each week we’ll select a Nation amenity and explore some of our other favourites from around the world, often drawn from fiction and throughout time.

To accompany our recent playlist on the subject, we're taking a look at Parks.

Parks are the beating hearts of cities — vital spaces where urban life and nature meet. They offer a sanctuary from the hustle of the everyday,  providing room to breathe, think, and connect. Historically, public parks were designed to improve the health and well-being of city dwellers, and in an era of increasing urban density and digital distraction, their importance is more important than ever. Parks not only mitigate the effects of urban heat, reduce pollution, and support biodiversity but also serve as democratic spaces where communities gather. Each one tells a unique story and together they remind us of our true nature and identity.

Central Park, New York City

Central Park is more than just a green space in the heart of Manhattan—it is a masterpiece of urban design and a beloved public sanctuary. Envisioned by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the mid-19th century, the park was created as a democratic space for all New Yorkers, offering an antidote to the congestion and pollution of industrial life. Spanning 843 acres, its meticulously designed landscapes include rolling meadows, tranquil lakes, and wooded trails that appear almost untouched by human hands, despite being entirely man-made.  

The park’s unique charm lies in its ability to offer something for everyone. Literary history buffs can visit the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, while sports enthusiasts enjoy boating on The Lake or skating at Wollman Rink. Its 29 sculptures, Belvedere Castle, and The Mall, a grand promenade lined with American elm trees, invite exploration at every turn. Central Park is also a cultural hub, hosting the iconic Delacorte Theater for Shakespeare in the Park and numerous concerts on the Great Lawn.  

What makes Central Park particularly fascinating is its resilience. Over the decades, it has survived periods of neglect and rebounded to become a globally recognized symbol of thoughtful urban planning. It remains a testament to the transformative power of design in creating a shared space that balances nature, art, and human activity in perfect harmony.

the hundred acre wood

The Hundred Acre Wood, immortalized in A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, is a fictional forest that has captivated generations with its charm, warmth, and lessons on friendship. Inspired by the real Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, England, the Hundred Acre Wood serves as the backdrop for the whimsical adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, including Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and Christopher Robin.  

This idyllic woodland is a character in its own right. Its geography includes enchanting places like Poohsticks Bridge, Eeyore’s Gloomy Place, and the sandy pit where Roo plays. The forest is a reflection of innocence and imagination, where everyday adventures become grand quests filled with humor, curiosity, and quiet wisdom. Unlike the meticulously landscaped parks of urban design, the Hundred Acre Wood embraces the untamed beauty of nature—a place where imperfections add to its charm.  

The Wood is often seen as metaphor for the freedom and wonder of childhood exploration, where every tree, hollow, and stream holds the potential for discovery. It represents a simpler, slower world, rich in companionship and thoughtful reflection. The stories’ gentle tone and Milne’s use of natural elements mirror real-life rhythms of the forest, making readers feel as though they’ve wandered into a familiar yet magical place.  Through its celebration of friendship and the natural world, the Hundred Acre Wood continues to remind us of the enduring magic of parks — real or imagined — that invite us to pause, play, and connect.

The Park of Monsters, Bomarzo

Hidden in the hills of Lazio, Italy, the Park of Monsters (Parco dei Mostri) in Bomarzo is a surreal and mysterious garden that defies convention. Commissioned in the 16th century by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, this Renaissance park is filled with colossal, grotesque sculptures carved from volcanic rock. Unlike the symmetrical, harmonious gardens of its era, Bomarzo’s design embraces chaos and the bizarre, making it a fascinating study in art, symbolism, and human emotion.  Among its most striking features are a giant stone ogre with a gaping mouth inscribed with the words “All reason departs,” a tilting house that defies balance, and statues of mythological creatures like dragons, giants, and sirens. Each sculpture invites interpretation, creating an enigmatic narrative that has perplexed visitors for centuries. Some believe the park represents Orsini’s grief after the death of his wife, while others see it as a reflection of philosophical ideas and esoteric symbols.  

The Park of Monsters is unique not only for its macabre beauty but also for its influence on surrealist art. Artists like Salvador Dalí drew inspiration from its haunting imagery, and it remains a pilgrimage site for lovers of the strange and fantastical. Unlike most parks that offer tranquility, Bomarzo challenges visitors with its dreamlike, unsettling atmosphere.  

This one-of-a-kind park reminds us that public spaces can be places of mystery and imagination, where beauty takes unexpected forms, and the natural world merges with the subconscious.

gardens by the bay, singapore

Gardens by the Bay is a futuristic park that redefines the relationship between nature, technology, and urban design. Located in the heart of Singapore, this award-winning 101-hectare garden complex showcases the city’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. Its most iconic feature is the towering Supertree Grove — vertical gardens that reach up to 50 meters high, covered with exotic plants and solar panels. At night, the trees come alive with a dazzling light and sound show, transforming the landscape into a sci-fi wonderland.  

The park also boasts two massive climate-controlled conservatories: the Flower Dome, which replicates a Mediterranean climate, and the Cloud Forest, home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and a misty mountain covered in lush vegetation. These biodomes highlight rare and endangered plant species while demonstrating cutting-edge environmental management.  What sets Gardens by the Bay apart is its integration of sustainability with artful design. The Supertrees not only provide shade but also collect rainwater, generate solar power, and function as exhaust systems for the conservatories. The park’s thoughtful layout incorporates diverse habitats, from serene lakes to fragrant gardens, creating a multi-sensory experience.  

Gardens by the Bay is a symbol of forward-thinking urban planning — a place where the boundaries between built environments and nature blur beautifully. It reflects Singapore’s vision of a “City in a Garden,” where greenery and innovation coexist harmoniously, inspiring cities worldwide to imagine greener futures..

jurrasic park

Few fictional parks capture the imagination like Jurassic Park, the ill-fated dinosaur theme park from Michael Crichton’s novel and Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film adaptation. Located on the remote Isla Nublar, this park was a marvel of bioengineering, designed to resurrect prehistoric creatures for human entertainment. What begins as a visionary experiment in blending science and spectacle quickly descends into chaos, making Jurassic Park a cautionary tale about the hubris of playing god with nature.  

Jurassic Park’s intrigue lies in its detailed realism. Crichton’s novel, rooted in plausible scientific concepts like genetic engineering and chaos theory, created a world that felt possible — even inevitable. Spielberg’s cinematic interpretation brought the park vividly to life, with towering gates, lush tropical foliage, and terrifying animatronic dinosaurs that left audiences breathless. Key locations like the T. rex paddock and the velociraptor-filled kitchen have become iconic in popular culture.  

Beyond its thrill-ride appeal, Jurassic Park raises profound questions about ethics, control, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. It explores the consequences of commodifying life and the unpredictable dangers of tampering with forces beyond our understanding. While its dinosaurs are the stars, the park itself—a constructed world where nature is manipulated for profit—delivers the story’s lasting message.  

Jurassic Park continues to fascinate because it blends wonder with fear, offering a vision of a park where dreams become nightmares. Its enduring popularity underscores the fragile balance between human ingenuity and the uncontrollable power of nature..
.