The ‘Adam Speaks’ Treehouse (Photo: Tracey Blackwell)
Our latest Curiosity of the Week is an unusual treehouse in Worcestershire. The treehouse, wrapped around the bottom of a cedar tree at Croome, was created by artist Chris Alton for the National Trust.
Croome is the National Trust’s visitor attraction situated near Pershore in Worcestershire. It is an 18th century mansion, surrounded by extensive landscaped parkland. The design and landscaping was largely carried out by ‘Capability’ Brown, for the 6th Earl of Coventry.
The treehouse was created to continue the Earl’s original ethos of using up and coming artists, such ‘Capability’ Brown, to work on Croome.
The National Trust commissioned artist Chris Alton to find an imaginative way of presenting Croome’s history to visitors, using Neo-classical architect, interior and furniture designer Robert Adam as inspiration.
The ‘Adam Speaks’ treehouse is Alton’s first major commission, but he is probably best known for his work in 2012 when he founded the English Disco Lovers (EDL), a satirical protest group that looked to reclaim the ‘EDL’ acronym used by the English Defence League.
Alton’s challenge was to try to make the work of well-known neoclassical designer Robert Adam more accessible. Alton came up with the concept of a small wooden house, wrapped around a tree, that incorporates many of the designs and details that Adam is known for.
Inside the quirky treehouse (Photo: Tracey Blackwell)
This unusual modern folly, which sees his ‘treehouse’ structure built around one of the park’s cedar trees, stands proudly at the foot of Church Hill. It is built at a low level to make the treehouse accessible to all visitors, including those with impaired mobility, meaning everyone can enjoy the structure.
The ‘Adam Speaks’ Treehouse will be available for visitors to experience in the parkland until November 2018.
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We are always on the lookout for interesting customs, hidden places, and unique buildings and landmarks, to share with our readers.