What makes a playhouse so magical?
Whenever I am asked what I do for a living I reply, "I build children's playhouses". It always provokes a smile!
So many of us have fond memories of our own playhouse. Most may have been built with a huge amount of love and pride (and probably frustration) by dad or maybe it was something you built yourself over a summer holiday in a tree or behind a hedge. To the passer by it may have lacked design finesse but to you it was a magical space, your space. And because it was in your own garden it provided the security and safety to indulge your imagination in complete safety.
The most famous playhouse of all is probably the one which belonged to Wendy Darling in J. M. Barries' play Peter Pan. Wendy was injured soon after her arrival in Neverland so Peter Pan (the boy who never grew up) and the lost boys built a small house around her where she had fell - thus creating the phrase "Wendy House".
Some of the freedom children enjoyed in the past has been lost but don't they still deserve the opportunity for adventure, creativity, innocence, imagination and (let's be realistic) mischief? Where better for children to learn and create than in their own space? A space they can enjoy their endless creativity, in fresh air and with their friends. Magical!
|
Richard, Kay & Tom Frost |
Project code:221010 |
Project code 1013310 |
