Picknick Seats and Cloth by Hella Jongerius

‘What struck me most was that spirits were so low in Oranienbaum and the surrounding area. The whole place was covered in a grey blanket. I was given a very simple mission: restore laughter.’

Picnicking was not allowed on the grounds of Oranienbaum Palace, but Hella Jongerius designed an invitation to do exactly that. Picknick Seats and Cloth pairs simple seating with a picnic blanket featuring a map of the best places to settle down in the park.

Created in 1999 for the Couleur Locale project, the design gently challenged the formal rules of the historic landscape. Instead of simply walking through and looking, visitors were encouraged to stop, gather and enjoy the surroundings together. With a touch of humour, Jongerius turned the park into a more open and sociable place.