treehouses at kew | the aurea ascent
The Aurea Ascent is inspired by the nautilus, a shape that captures the essence of growth found throughout nature. A gently sloping ramp raises the visitor nearly 2 meters through a dynamic sensory experience. At grade the threshold is wide and inviting, with a tall, vertically slatted enclosure that acts as a bird-blind, allowing visitors to peer out while obscuring them from view of others in the gardens. This redirects views upwards, with an interplay of shadows from canopy and slats offering rich dappled lighting. The height of the enclosure remains fixed while the winding pathway spirals upward, offering sweeping views as one ascends. Along with the visual offerings, the slatted enclosure serves as a life-sized musical instrument, the resonance of each slat changing slightly as one moves along the path.
The Aurea Ascent brings together people of all ages and abilities, with a surface that transitions from a fully-accessible walkway at the outer edge to a more playful, steeply-sloping experience at the inner edge. At its pinnacle, the nautilus form wraps the dual trunks of Tree 2, with a viewing platform that affords visitors a unique view toward the broader gardens. The experience is dynamic, aspirational, and as varied as those who visit.
The entire structure can be constructed out of tapered CLT planks, which are rotated and stepped to achieve the necessary slope of the ramp. Each step is small enough so that the offset edges can be shaped as a smooth surface - first using a CNC mill at the shop, with final alignments being finessed by hand on site. The tapered planks can face alternating directions in the layout within each panel, maximizing the yield from each panel. The design embraces the overall design requirements of accessibility, wood construction, and delight, embracing the specific goals of Tree 2 by demonstrating principles of biomimicry and biophilia. It brings all ages and abilities together for a multi-sensory experience that highlights and celebrates the beauty of the Kew Gardens.