Redesigning the Game: How SIDELINED Challenges Our Understanding of Sport
What if the very essence of sport—winning and losing—was no longer the point? This is the provocative question at the heart of SIDELINED: A Space to Rethink Togetherness, a project by Gabriel Fontana and Amanda Pinatih that’s been making waves across Europe. Personally, I think this is one of the most intriguing cultural interventions in recent memory, not just because it reimagines sport, but because it forces us to confront the systems we take for granted.
When Fontana says, ‘Sport is a designed system,’ it’s a deceptively simple statement. But if you take a step back and think about it, it’s revolutionary. Stadiums, uniforms, rules—these aren’t natural phenomena; they’re human-made constructs. Yet, we rarely question them. We inherit these systems, play by them, and assume they’re immutable. What makes this particularly fascinating is how Fontana and Pinatih expose the design choices behind sport and ask: What values do they reinforce? And what happens if we redesign them?
The Games That Break the Rules
At the core of SIDELINED are three alternative team sports: Multiform, Anonymous Allyship, and Fluid Field. What immediately stands out is how these games disrupt the familiar. Teams aren’t fixed, uniforms change mid-game, and playing fields shift shape. In my opinion, this isn’t just about making sport more inclusive—though it does that brilliantly—it’s about challenging the very idea of competition.
One thing that many people don’t realize is how deeply competition is baked into our understanding of sport. We’re taught from a young age that winning is the ultimate goal. But these games redirect our attention toward cooperation and negotiation. Players spend less time trying to outdo each other and more time navigating uncertainty together. This raises a deeper question: What if the real ‘win’ is learning to adapt and collaborate?
The Sports Bar as a Social Experiment
The sports bar, a recurring element in SIDELINED, is more than just a venue—it’s a metaphor. In Venice, it was an alternative space to examine belonging; in Rotterdam, it’s a free public hub on the rooftop of Nieuwe Instituut. What makes this particularly interesting is how the sports bar mirrors society itself. As Pinatih points out, sports bars can be both inclusive and exclusive. They bring people together, but they also reflect the divisions in the world outside.
From my perspective, this duality is what makes SIDELINED so powerful. It’s not just about redesigning sport; it’s about redesigning public spaces and social interactions. The Fluid Foosball Table, for instance, abandons fixed teams, while the trophy cabinet rewards collaboration over victory. These aren’t just games—they’re tools for reimagining how we relate to one another.
Queerness as a Method, Not Just an Identity
Fontana’s use of queerness as a method is a detail I find especially interesting. By treating queerness as a way of challenging norms, he creates space for different ways of being and relating. This isn’t about labeling or categorizing; it’s about questioning the status quo. In a world where sport is often hyper-masculine and rigid, this approach feels radical.
What this really suggests is that sport, like architecture, is a system that shapes us. Stadiums, jerseys, and rules aren’t neutral—they carry values and assumptions. By redesigning these elements, SIDELINED invites us to ask: Who are these systems for? And who gets left out?
From Venice to Rotterdam: The Evolution of SIDELINED
The journey of SIDELINED from the Venice Architecture Biennale to Rotterdam’s Nieuwe Instituut is a story of adaptation. In Venice, it was a proposition; in Rotterdam, it’s part of everyday cultural life. This evolution highlights something crucial: context matters. What works in one setting might not work in another, but the core idea—rethinking togetherness—remains.
What many people don’t realize is how much sport is tied to place. A game played in a stadium feels different from one played in a park. SIDELINED leverages this by responding to its surroundings, whether it’s transforming a pavilion into a sports bar or inviting local students to redesign playing fields. This adaptability is what makes it so compelling.
The Broader Implications: Sport as a Mirror of Society
If you take a step back and think about it, sport is more than just a game. It’s a microcosm of society—complete with its hierarchies, norms, and power dynamics. SIDELINED challenges us to see sport not just as entertainment, but as a designed system that reflects and reinforces broader social values.
This raises a deeper question: What would happen if we applied this lens to other systems? Education, politics, even urban planning—all are designed systems that shape our lives. SIDELINED isn’t just about sport; it’s about the power of design to transform how we live together.
Final Thoughts: The Game We’re All Playing
As I reflect on SIDELINED, I’m struck by its audacity. It doesn’t just ask us to rethink sport; it asks us to rethink the rules of the game we’re all playing. In a world that often feels divided, this project offers a glimpse of what could be—a space where uncertainty is embraced, collaboration is celebrated, and winning isn’t the only goal.
Personally, I think SIDELINED is more than an exhibition or a series of games; it’s a call to action. It challenges us to question the systems we inherit and imagine how they could be different. And in that sense, it’s not just about sport—it’s about the kind of world we want to build.
So, the next time you watch a game or step onto a field, ask yourself: Who designed this? And what would happen if we redesigned it together?
