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Talking Trees

Talking Trees is designed as a haven to celebrate the biophilic connections between the living – tree – and the material – timber – to create a restorative and convivial space for all. Like a clearing in the woods, Talking Trees presents a chance to pause, reflect and reevaluate our relationship with the natural world and the material resources we draw from it.

Date:
2022
Client:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Collaborators:
Tate & Co, studio 8Fold, Matri-Archi(tecture) & Simple Works

Talking Trees invites the visitor to experience the often overlooked yet ever-present qualities of trees. Here, we celebrate a Tilia tomentosa tree at Kew Gardens; but this could be any tree, collection of trees, woodland or forest. Our design, like the Tilia itself, mimics its resilient adaptability, imagining opportunities for reconfiguration and reuse at Kew and beyond.

The design invites visitors to engage with the tree by framing unexpected elements of nature. The reflective materials celebrate the ever-changing nature of the tree, as it is constantly growing. The radial CLT form enclaves the multiplicity of sounds, highlighting human and non-human interactions surrounding the tree.

Talking Trees houses conversations between the tree and its visitors, offering opportunities for interactive and contemplative moments; ultimately encouraging a deep and reflected appreciation for trees as impactful and life-giving bodies.

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