Halve It Component:

My design project focuses heavily on Environment pillar of our school’s framework, with a secondary link to the Environment pillar.

• Environmental design means making sure you have play spaces to run around and get active so you can focus and enjoy learning. Environmental design is the way a space is built, whether you have cool shaped walkways or interesting buildings to learn and have fun in. This helps Middle School students fulfil their Middle School journey. 

Sustainable Development Goal:

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure

The Calming Platform meets SDG 9 ( Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure) because it is a natural treehouse and fosters innovation. It is a very unique structure that will calm the mind and will make you feel safe and at home. There will be comfy rugs that you can lie on to make you feel relaxed. There will also be things that you can fidget with when you're stressed and they will calm you down as well. 

School Context:

If you look very closely at the new Middle School campus design, there is no treehouse or anything living in it. We can change that by adding a treehouse and plants. Kids love exciting and adventurous settings, and we can change their perspective of the new campus and add in these things and make it exciting for them!

During recess and lunch, the Middle Schoolers want something fun to do to fill in their time, so if that means adding in a treehouse, I think we should do it. Because adding something like that into a school will encourage kids to come to school and that will make them happy and joyful in class, so that’s a win-win for the teachers and the students.

In the Middle School survey, (2026) only 5 out of 92 students preferred indoor spaces to a treehouse in the rainforest and natural spaces, which proves that majority of the students prefer outdoor or creative activities.

Ancient China

In Ancient China, treehouses relate in a way that is not for living, but more for protection. People from Ancient China used to make ‘early’ treehouses to protect them from floods, and wild animals etc.  They would try to keep their quarters as dry as possible, because if they let it get damp, snakes and other reptiles would move in. And if they made their houses on the ground, when it rained it would dampen. So, my project is a treehouse, and it is actually more similar than you think it is, because people can go there when they need to have some time away from their predators.

Hundertwasser

Friedensreich Hundertwasser connected nature with his structures by making them a ‘living organism,’ by putting trees and shrubs on the outer walls and making the whole building seem alive. Lot’s of, but not all of, his building designs had plants on the exterior. Hundertwasser had over 40 buildings with a ‘nature platform’ or a forested roof in/ on it. On any building with any parts of nature connected to it, most people feel deeply connected with the greenery, and this really helps with stress and makes you feel calm. Personally, I think that the reason Hundertwasser added the greenery and nature is not just for the amazing looks but is also to make people feel connected with nature and the earth.

In my project, I am intertwining this ‘living organism’ design with my treehouse design. I have a whole garden in my design and it will be in the rainforest to truly harness this philosophy from Hundertwasser.

How might we design a calm and safe treehouse in the rainforest that helps students feel comfortable, safe and relaxed in an outdoor environment?

The idea of the treehouse, The Calming Platform, is to be made out of 100% recycled wood, or close to. It will be either in a tree or it might be attached to something else near the rainforest.

Having calming sounds in a quiet space is usually great, because some people feel more safe and comfortable which is the whole purpose of this treehouse, to be a calm and peaceful place. It would be natural sounds, like running water, or maybe rustling leaves. The Calming Platform is a space of respect and I want people to have fun as well as respecting the people that are trying to relax. You will be able to eat with your friends and chat and play boardgames too! You can also take some naps on the fluffy mats and rugs while also being able to go in the cubby house and play with fidgets etc.

It would be preferable for this to be a no shoes space. Don’t worry, there will be a spot where you can leave your shoes before you enter.

The possibilities of this space are endless. Some people might even want to start a book club or similar gathering in one of the corners weekly. If some students wanted to, they could possibly donate some old books and boardgames to the treehouse so we can have a small treehouse bookshelf and boardgames area.

If the treehouse is connected to another platform of some sort, there can be stairs leading into the treehouse, and if it is in a tree, then we can have a cool painted ladder.

The fence around the treehouse will be made out of recycled wood and can be shaped in a cool and unique way, like the bamboo structures at the farm. There should be a garden in one of the corners with half of it grass and the other half soil, growing crops like carrots and other vegetation that we could donate to Jabay.

This treehouse will bring the rainforest area of Brown & Jolly to life for Middle Schoolers now and into the future.