Dezeen Magazine

Architects design fantastical crazy-golf courses for Turf exhibition in Los Angeles

Architects and designers have created quirky obstacles based on features of Los Angeles for a temporary mini-golf range at the city's Materials & Applications gallery (+ slideshow).

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
Andrea Kamilaris, Brian Koehler and Drew Stanley's club LA golf course has a black and white patterned area that disguises the hole

Contributors were asked to submit "a single architectural obstacle" that would relate to a feature of the local environment, such as drought, traffic or neighbourhood characteristics.

"The mini-golf course becomes a playful trope of the city of Los Angeles, articulated through artificial terrains, winding territories and fantastical architecture," said Materials & Applications.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
Driving DE(rang)ED by La Fabrica references the traffic of the city of Los Angeles

The gallery then selected nine designs, which will be constructed and hosted in its outdoor space. The crazy-golf course will be open to the public for three weeks, starting from early spring.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
The Putt-to-Fit course by Knowhow Shop features a plywood lawn made from multiple strips

Among the entries is Andrea Kamilaris, Brian Koehler and Drew Stanley's Club LA design, which features a sloping pink section, and a second black and white patterned area that disguises the hole.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
A small putting platform is suspended from a moving balloon in Heyday Partnership's Pie in the Sky

The Putt-to-Fit Knowhow Shop course references the iconic furniture of LA-based designers Ray and Charles Eames, featuring a plywood lawn made from multiple strips. Terrains by TAG-LA is divided into quadrants intended to represent the various areas of the Californian city.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
Kyle May's SiNK course features a fluid-filled roadway that shifts shape as players step on it

The city's traffic prompted the Driving DE(rang)ED course, which features grey ramps stacked one on top of another that the player has to navigate to reach the final hole. Architect Kyle May addressed California's subsidence problems with his SiNK course, which features a fluid-filled roadway that shifts shape as players step on it.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
Various areas of LA are represented in four quadrants in Terrains by TAG-LA design

Other unusual approaches include Ordinary Architecture's Electric Palm Tree Turbine House, which challenges players to hit a ball between moving windmill blades, and Heyday Partnership's Pie in the Sky, which features a golf hole suspended from a large silver balloon that moves in the wind.

TURF exhibition at Materials and Applications gallery
Moving blades creates a challenge for golfers in Ordinary Architecture's Electric Palm Tree Turbine House

Other alternative approaches to golf include Jason Page's golfing suits patterned with polka dots and embroidered bird motifs to encourage more diversity in the sport.