With the help of sketches drawn by pre-schoolers, a group of students from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science devoted their weekend to building tree houses in Brunnshög.
Photo: Axel Hilleskog
There was a brave group of people who worked in Solbjerparken this weekend, come rain or shine, with bending and braiding branches of willow to make tree houses and other formations. The tree houses are part of the Brunnshög-project that aims to let children be involved in the construction of public spaces. It is the City of Lund, together with the organisation Arkitekter utan gränser (Architects without borders) and students from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU) in Alnarp that are behind the project.
One of the students involved is Axel Thorén from SLU, who is also a member of Arkitekter utan gränser.
“I think it’s great with temporary structures that everyone can make together, even children. The child perspective is often missing in the planning and designing of the public space. There are no routines to make them involved”, Axel Thorén says.
The SLU-student, Johanna Hedlund is on the same track.
“I want to draw attention to unused places and get children to use them in an active way, instead of them being limited to only the places assigned to children.”
Photo: Axel Hilleskog
It is children from Toppenskolan, which is located near the building site, who have made the tree house sketches. Initiator and project manager, Kajsa Ignell from the City of Lund says that the children are very curious about what will happen. In time, they will also be able to help with the building.
“We make the foundation and then children in Lund get to come here and build things by themselves during the summer”, Kajsa Ignell says.
The tree houses come to life
The tree houses are built with branches from pollarded willow trees from the parks in Lund, a material that is very hardy.
“I have worked with willow for 35 years, and it is a unique material that is easily shaped and can stand a lot of violence”, the willow artist Steen Madsen, who acted as chief engineer says.
Nor does it take much for the tree to grow.
“All it takes is some earth and moisture for the willow branches to take root”, Steen Madsen says.
“If all goes well, the tree houses will be covered in green leaves by the summer”, Kajsa Ignell says.
Photo: Axel Hilleskog
Text: Axel Hilleskog
Translation: Emily Eriksson
