Helen & Hard Architects, Stavanger, Norway - Ratatosk

REINHARD KROPF: We are quite a diverse group of people; we are sixteen employees and eight different nationalities. We don’t have a particular style but we have certain methods and values we are occupied about. All our projects are about sustainability, in a way. A lot of projects are timber projects. Our point of departure was the memories when we played in the trees in the forest and these kinds of mingled play places where you can do a lot of things and have a lot of fun.

DAG STRASS: Here’s our first candidate. As you can see many of them are really old and really large so we figure we couldn’t handle those but this one we think is perfect. It has a nice top and nice shapes for our cutting.

REINHARD KROPF: The Pavillion exists of ten ash trees, which are standing creating an elliptical space. We assemble the parts of the trees, weaving a roof on top with the branches and then the branches are not too high up so it is good for climbing. The intention is really to trigger a lot of joyful and playful interactions. This kind of stimulation of the five senses but also of your fantasy and imagination has been our goal.

The form of the trees will help us to design the pavilion because every tree is different and gives different possibilities for the cutting and for the reassembling.

REINHARD KROPF: How was it to cut the tree, was it difficult?

TREE SURGEON: Yes, very difficult.

REINHARD KROPF: It destroyed your chain saw!

TREE SURGEON: (laughing) I know.