麻豆影院

BRANCHING OUT; 麻豆影院 State Magazine; Summer 2016

麻豆影院 State graduates have created tree houses鈥攐n exhibit this summer at the Cleveland Botanical Garden鈥攖hat encourage us to turn off our electronic devices and embrace the outdoors.

Photographs by Melissa Olson

 

The tree house is an iconic image of childhood鈥攊f you didn鈥檛 have one as a child, you probably wish you had. Even as adults, a tree house reminds us of a simpler time, when the long days of summer stretched before us, when we played outdoors for hours, free from glowing screens and structured activities.

Over the past three decades, changes in agriculture, society and technology have moved us more and more indoors, and many people, especially children, are seldom exposed to natural settings. The Branch Out exhibit at the Cleveland Botanical Garden is out to change that鈥攁nd inspire us all to go outside and play!

The botanical garden sent out requests for proposals for a tree house competition last year. Judges鈥攍ed by Pete Nelson, star of television show Treehouse Masters鈥攔eviewed the submissions and selected five designs, four of which are by graduates of 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Each tree house explores a theme related to learning and fun.

鈥淲e set records for our summer attendance last year with this exhibit,鈥 says Jen Anderson, director of guest services and special exhibits. 鈥淏ecause the tree houses were exciting to people, we wanted to keep the exhibit for another year and encourage outdoor play.鈥

Three new tree houses have been added to the display this summer, and the exhibit is available through August 28. Learn more at .

KENT STATE鈥橲 WINNING DESIGNS FROM LAST YEAR:

Acoustic CanopyAcoustic Canopy

Designer: Alan Hipps, B.S. 鈥08, M. Arch. 鈥09, Sap + Iron | Design Build

Builder: Sap + Iron | Design Build*

Theme: Music

What鈥檚 Up: Inspired by the 鈥榞olden section spiral鈥欌攁 familiar ratio found in nature鈥攖he layout resembles a treble clef. Everything in the structure is based off the number eight (the number of notes in an octave). Rhythm instruments allow visitors to make their own music. The tree house is suspended from branches by cables and anchored to a dawn redwood tree with bolts designed so the tree can envelop them as its trunk expands.  


Twisted TreeTwisted Tree

Project Architect: Mike Christ, B.Arch. 鈥95, Vocon

Builder:&苍产蝉辫;顿辞苍濒别测鈥檚

Theme: Play

What鈥檚 Up: This multi-level wooden structure promotes play within its winding frame. Visitors can ride on a swing at the ground level and play wind chimes made of electrical conduit while climbing towards the tree canopy.


Giant Jack in the PulpitGiant Jack in the Pulpit

Designer: Steve Bell, B.S. 鈥07, M. Arch. 鈥08, ThenDesign Architecture (TDA)

Builder: Today鈥檚 Lifestyle Construction, Inc.

Theme: Art

What鈥檚 Up: Inspired by the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, this tree house enables visitors to climb inside a giant woodland flower and experience nature in a whole new way.

Note: Only on exhibit last year.


SeasonsSeasons

Designer: Mykie Hrusovski, B.S. 鈥08, Sap + Iron | Design Build

Builder: Sap + Iron | Design Build*

Theme: Reading

What鈥檚 Up: Built around the trunk of a tulip poplar, this 鈥榯ree inside a house鈥 acts as a reading room, with slanted slots in one wall for books and a place to write poetry. Reminiscent of a one-room schoolhouse, the structure is wrapped in western red cedar and hand charred with a torch, which protects it from weathering, bugs and rot.

*Members of  Sap + Iron | Design Build include Charles Frederick, B. Arch. 鈥96, interim director of 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 graduate landscape architecture program, Alan Hipps, B.S. 鈥08, M.Arch. 鈥09 and Mykie Hrusovski, B.S. 鈥08.

POSTED: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 09:20 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM