The Rhizotron at Kew Gardens

Rhizotron originally means "clear-walled chamber through which one can observe roots as they grow". This version is a little different as it climbs through and over the tree tops at Kew Gardens.

I was impressed by how it seemed to fit into it's surroundings. It would have been an obvious (aesthetic) choice to make it from wood but I prefer it in metal (iron?). It looks stronger for a start. I know wood can be as strong as metal, but I can imagine that those of a vertigo disposition would feel better knowing it was made from metal. The rust colour looks organic and even bolts have a natural feel about them.

I loved the way they've mirrored the look of tree branches for these supports. It's got that nice exciting engineering Brunel look about it. It doesn't look threatening. It looks cool.

The view are pretty cool too and you get to walk amoungst the trees. Little plaques tell more about the trees as you pass and there's even a Bluetooth game.

Actually the Kew website is pretty good and there is a good interactive map of all the trees. Exactly the sort of thing Kew should be doing. Good.

All good fun. At the moment it's a temporary structure but I hope they make it permanent. More pictures on Flickr.

I liked this as well. Reasonable, common sense, non preaching, on brand message, environmentalism. One last full stop wouldn't hurt though.

Comments

[John]

So glad you didn't suggest the lack of a full stop hinted at the infinity of the composting cycle.

[Lora]

This walkway looks awesome! From the look of it, the structure is probably "corten steel". It gives a rusty appearance without rusting all the way trough. Usually corten steel is just a plating though. Wood can definitely be as strong as steel, but usually it would be of a much larger diameter, so the structure wouldn't be anywhere near as elegant as it is now...

by the way... I've been reading your blog for some time now, just never really got around to posting. I'm an architecture student, not a graphic designer, so I'm just soaking in everyone's wisdom over here without being able to add to it :) Until now that is...

[Mike Reed]

Bless you for the full stop comment, Ben. By the way, Salcey Forest in Northamptonshire got there first. It has a lovely treetop walkway: http://tinyurl.com/686mdr