champicabanes: corinne détroyat+claude pasquer reimagine childhood huts

developed by french landscape designers corinne julhiet détroyat and claude pasquer, the champicabanes are small architectural sculptures that evoke the contemporary ‘follies’ style. united once again by their passion for the garden, the project is a catalyst of their combined approaches: natural and artificial, aethetical and functional, fairytale and biodiversity.

sketched impression of the project

after their successful champicomposteurs installations at the 2011 chaumont-sur-loire international garden festival, corinne julhiet détroyat and claude pasquer were brought back to their childhood memories playing in nested huts — leading them to the creation of champicabanes. in harmony with mother nature, they chose the peculiar form of a mushroom which offers playfulness, a sense of wonder and security.

as a result, the designers create a ‘new vocabulary that speaks to the kid in all of us: the awareness of sounds, smells and movements of nature. in these secret huts, through the braided rope surfaces, one can see the whole environment, observe, escape and listen to nature with the utmost discretion, with the freedom of seeing without being seen’.

the magic of the night

thanks to a variation in sizes and functions, the installations offer an entire universe dedicated to children –the realm of the imaginary:

champicabane is the principal hut that greets children wit four benches and small tables — ideal for interactions and games. it is followed by champicachette© and two champicachecache© which are smaller and evoke the feeling of ‘hide and seek. finally, the champicoffre© is the ideal storage space for toys, books and crafts. contrary to the typical childhood huts, the champicabanes have neither facades nor windows; one enters into a 360 degrees structure with the impression of stepping into another world.

braided ropes covering the structure of the mushroom ironwork

unique combination of natural mesh and iron, as slats, of the mushroom cap

warm lights offer intimate and magic-like settings

perceptions of shapes and silhouettes unsuspected during the day

 glow of  LED lights accentuate the curves and shadow of the huts

playful and vibrant display that trigger the imagination of children
image © alexandre petzold

the whole ‘family’ of champicabanes
image © alexandre petzold

a 360 degree view, with a feeling of traveling elsewhere

claude pasquer and corinne détroyat
image © alexandre petzold

all image courtesy: claude pasquer and alexandre petzold

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom