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Reflective Metal Canopies over Elevated Play Platforms in a Forest Setting

Author:
Wanyu Yang
Reflective Metal Canopies over Elevated Play Platforms in a Forest Setting
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Suspended above the forest floor, elevated platforms with reflective metal canopies create engaging play spaces that seamlessly integrate with the natural environment, serving as a visitor center for recreational and educational activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated platforms designed for various functions enhance visitor engagement with the forest.
02
Reflective metal canopies provide sunlight and visual harmony within the landscape.
03
A multi-level layout allows for diverse viewpoints of the surrounding national park.
04
Interactive columns serve both as structural supports and play features for children.
05
Open playground spaces are incorporated within the visitor center layout for recreational use.

The design titled "Forest in The Forest" is located within a national park, offering a blend of artificial structures set against the backdrop of nature. This project serves as a visitor center that embodies the idea of an artificial forest, mimicking the growth patterns of trees. The structure resembles a tree house and is elevated, providing visitors with varying heights and perspectives to engage with the surrounding landscape.

Design Concept

The overall design is organized into a multi-level arrangement with four distinct sections, each designated for different functions. This layout supports diverse activities, whether for families or educational groups, and offers spaces for leisure and interaction. The differing elevations of the platforms enhance visitor experience, allowing people to connect with the park from various viewpoints while encouraging exploration.

Spatial Organization

The project incorporates three platforms that feature enclosed spaces, while a fourth platform serves as an open playground. This arrangement ensures plenty of room for children to play and for families to enjoy camping. Columns within the artificial forest serve both structural and interactive roles. They provide support for the building while also inviting engagement from visitors, blurring the lines between architecture and play.

Pathway Connectivity

Providing access between the platforms is a carefully planned one-way path. Visitors can navigate easily while experiencing the contrasts between the natural and artificial elements of the site. The varied outlines of the roofs, platforms, and houses create a lively visual effect, offering a mix of enclosed and open areas that engage visitors in different ways.

Materials

Materials chosen for construction include glossy metal, highly reflective metal, and glass. These selections lend a modern touch, creating a contrast with the natural surroundings. The reflective surfaces interact with sunlight, adding a dynamic quality to the spaces.

Large windows on the elevated platforms frame expansive views and allow natural light to fill the interiors, creating a sense of being enveloped by nature. The design encourages visitors to appreciate the balance of the artificial and the natural, inviting them to explore and engage with the environment.

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Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

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