POLYPORE/

PLAY THAT FUNGI MUSIC

Brief: Celebrating Play, Tree 1 - Norway Maple

THE COMPETITION ENTRY

An ode to fungi, this treehouse aims to celebrate the beauty and wonder of fungi. Knowingly referencing the role of mushrooms in popular culture, it unashamedly plays with both scale and colour. Polypore is designed to be lit primarily by UV lights ( a nod to both bio-luminescent mushrooms & the psychedelic properties of some mushrooms ) using painted dayglo elements in the design to transform the structure after dark into an enchanting dreamscape.

As a play space, this treehouse aims to be accessible to all. The cascading steps of the treehouse create a tactile and accessible covered ground level space for those unable to venture further. Those able to use stairs are rewarded with the polyvore inspired tree top platforms, one with full height standing space, and a second ‘crawl space’ / kids area’ with limited headroom, both providing unique views of the Kew parkland.

Surrounding the tree, creating an accessible play landscape there are a range of interactive play mushrooms, some for climbing & jumping and others of a more musical nature.

India Aspin & Amy Jenkins Smith

"India Aspin and Amy Jenkins Smith’s entry is a delightful proposition that explores fungi at the scale of architecture, object & form in a delightful and playful way."

- Simon Allford, AHMM

THE WINNING DESIGN

With the competition concept as our starting point we worked in collaboration with Arup engineers to develop our proposal into a buildable scheme. Focusing on the potential of CLT in forming the structural timber elements and plywood suspended gilled canopies to form the roof above.

Our design was chosen as the winner, following a presentation to the 15-strong competition panel.