Refusal as Practice

critical essay for Playground Issue 5, 2026 What if creativity isn’t only about making things, but also about knowing when not to? In Playground Issue 5, I explored the power of refusal as an essential creative act. I believe that creative work is not defined solely by what gets built, published, or produced, but also by the decisions to resist projects that conflict with social, environmental, or ethical values. Using examples such as Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld—a former airport that has been converted into a public green space—and the collective work of Architects4THF, this essay examines how architects and creative professionals can challenge systems that prioritize development over community, ecology, and democratic participation. The Berlin Senate has been trying to develop the field for years. Under the false pretext of addressing the housing crisis and in disregard of existing laws, democratic negotiation processes, and massive vacancy rates in the immediate vicinity of the field. Refusal is not a retreat from professional responsibility—it is often its most sincere expression. This theme resonates throughout Playground Issue 5, which brings together voices from across Europe to explore the invisible forces shaping creativity today. Through essays, reports, interviews, and visual storytelling, the issue investigates the economies, structures, and practices that sustain creative work, while asking how experimentation, play, and critical thinking can help shape a fairer and more connected future.