The Milkshake Tree

An experiential garden den has been created for the London Festival of Architecture 2016 by pH+ Architects on Peninsula Square, Greenwich. Conceived as an inclusive sensory space, The Milkshake Tree is a pop-up inspired by the practice’s work for the London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy (LCCCP) in Haringey. The installation stimulates and encourages play through sounds, smells, movements and reflective surfaces.

The Milkshake Tree is part of the philosophy of learning through play, embraced at the LCCCP. Using specific education techniques, which were specifically developed for children with cerebral palsy or other movement disorders, the charity’s aim is to inspire disabled children to develop independence, confidence and self-esteem to achieve their full potential. The pop-up is named after a request from one of the children for a milkshake tree in their new Centre.

Located outside the NOW Gallery, the installation includes a ramped walkway bounded by a screen of timber fins combined with copper xylophones which can be played by the children as they pass by. The walkway wraps around a 12 sq metre gold mirrored cube with leaf-shaped cut outs, an Amelanchier tree and a glass prism in the centre creates a kaleidoscope of colours and light.

After the festival, the project will be relocated to the playground of the Centre’s new home in North London which recently received planning permission.
 
Andy Puncher, Director, pH+ said: “After three years of collaborating with the London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy we are delighted to present to the wider public some of the features that will be enjoyed by the children in their new school.”

Jo Honigmann, Chief Executive LCCCP said: “We are thrilled that pH+ are presenting the Milkshake Tree pop-up as part of the London Festival of Architecture. We hope the installation will give visitors a great taster of the innovative features we plan to include in our new Centre and school. We are very grateful to those who have put their time towards the design and construction.”

pH+’s design to extend the Centre in Haringey includes a multi sensory ramp with a musical walkway that links the school to new hydrotherapy and therapy spaces. The landscape, designed by BD Landscape Architects, adds to a range of indoor and outdoor learning spaces including a sensory roof garden, a mud kitchen and a sheltered treehouse. All aspects of the design are to capture children’s imaginations.

The Milkshake Tree at Greenwich Peninsula has been developed in collaboration with BD Landscape Architects and is being constructed by contractors City Sq and cladding suppliers Creative Aluminium Solutions.