Overlook and treefort pods, hideaway destinations high above the exhibit gallery floor.
Hero shot of the Tides to Trees Climber with interactive water exhibit in foreground designed by Tom Lindsay. The heart and structure of the climber is a matrix of 25 to 30 foot tall Douglas fir utility poles and timbers. The bottoms of the poles are encrusted with barnacles and mollusks from the watershed marine ecosystem while the green beams recall the tree canopies from forested areas of the watershed.
Lower climber entrance featured wire mesh enclosed stack of pods for safe back and forth climbing up to and from mezzanine level above. Against a blue animated background of shimmering reflective discs, schools of salmon and trout swim through swirling eelgrass in a breeze animated mobile. From behind the mobile, a large plush brown bear hungrily eyes the fish swimming by.
Architectural stair that wraps around the lower levels of the climber provides walking access to mezzanine above. The bottoms of the climber's pier supports are encrusted with barnacles and mollusks. Colorful appliques depict tidal zone plants and animals.
The Boat Pod which terminates the lower climbing pod stack is suspended from the mezzanine deck above.
The Treefort Pod.
Mezzanine level entrance to the upper climber and to the spiral slide. The Eagle's Nest Pod is the highest climbing destination reached by negotiating a series of mesh enclosed rope bridges.
Interior view of the Eagle's Nest Pod.
Inside the Eagle's Nest Pod.
Climbing inside the rope bridge system.
Digital model of the whole climber assembly.
Concept sketch for the Boat Pod.
Concept sketch for the Boat Pod, last stop in the lower climber experience before ascending up onto the mezzanine floor above.
Digital modeling of the Beehive Pod. From inside the beehive, kids observe large honeybees (made by a local felt artist) tending larvae in their honeycomb cells or collecting nectar from giant cherry blossoms.
Concept sketch for the Eagle's Nest Pod, the highest point in the overall climber experience.
Early interaction and climbing strategy planning whiteboard sketch.
Early interaction concept whiteboard sketch.
gLike
Hands On Children's Museum Tides to Trees Climber
A multi-story indoor climbing structure where kids explore thematic aspects of the South Puget Sound watershed.
Designed while Senior Designer with Turner Exhibits, Lynnwood WA
