Zen Zone - Park(ing) Day for Fitness

Zen Zone – Fitness for the mind, body, soul

The city of Amsterdam is a bustling place full of life, excitement and traffic of people (on foot, bike, car, scooter – you name it). A moment of urban calm and peace in the city is often scarce, but vital to recharge the mind.  Zen Zone is a pop-up concept for instant nourishment of the mind, body and soul. It is a place to chill out – relax, reinvigorate and restore.

The look and feel of Zen Zone are inspired by the elemental design of traditional Japanese Zen gardens. Many stones, green plants and wooden features unify the esthetic. Gravel stones fill the base of the garden, which is encompassed in a wooden frame of Japanese joinery. A small pathway leads the participant through the mini garden to a seated place for meditation. A golden rake leans against a larger rock, visitors can choose to rake the gravel if they desire. At Zen Zone, visitors are invited to notice the surrounding senses, earthy smells and nature sounds around them. The location was selected due to the abundance of cherry blossom trees and proximity to water, drawing on the rich trading history between The Netherlands and Japan. Visitors are welcomed to explore the magic of this tiny garden, sit and stay for however long they choose.

This installation will bring a positive impact to passersby, visitors and its neighbourhood with only a few square metres of usage. Zen Zone is an alternative take on ‘fitness’ and an inviting reminder that mind health is important to practice with intention.

*Find Zen Zone on the parking space across from 99 Jozef Israëlskade, Amsterdam.