Where The Wild Things Are
Heather Mitcheltree
Melbourne University, Melbourne
After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2002 with degrees in Arts and Science I had to sit down and assess whether I wanted to continue with further study in the field of immunology or make a change to something different. Whilst I loved science, I felt that I needed something that offered me more of a creative outlet and enrolled in a Bachelor of Planning and Design (Architecture) at the University of Melbourne. With both a father and older sister who are Landscape Architect’s and having spent most of my school holidays as a child in and out of design studios and Architect’s offices, the change seemed like a natural one and I have greatly enjoyed the challenges that design brings. I am passionate about design, the environment and the creation of environmentally sensitive, well thought out and designed urban spaces.
At present I live in Melbourne with my husband and two children, all of whom are wonderful sources of inspiration and support. I am currently completing the third year of my B.P.D. and also do research work for the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. I hope to combine work in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture as I am a firm believer in a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to design.
Design Explanation
Green tufts of grass
Spring up out of the bed,
And up shoot plants with
Leaves of green, purple and red.
Wolf suit on,
There’s a wild jungle to explore;
A garden in which to
Romp, stomp and roar.
With a private boat
On which to sail near & far,
Or perhaps to the land
Where the Wild Things are.
Inspired by the children’s book “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, this garden is designed to engage children in active and imaginative play. It is a garden in which to romp, stomp, roar and go wild. A garden in which children can sail through a day and in and out of weeks, and into a land of their own imagination.
In Sendak’s classic children’s tale, Max is sent to his room for being a Wild Thing and making mischief of one kind and another. There in his room, a forest grows and a private boat appears upon which Max sails to the land Where the Wild Things are; a land in which, in his wolf suit, he is king.
The format of this garden follows that of the story and we find ourselves in a room that is dissolving into a tangle of plants all around. Grass grows up out of the bed and trees sprout up out of the bed posts. Overhead are monkey bars on which to swing and romp, and through the window and door Wild Things peek. Sight lines have been set up through the window to the Island of the Wild Things, and over to the private boat and beyond in an attempt to create interest and intrigue as one moves through the garden. The floor boards extend out to form the jetty for the boat, and around the boat are undulating waves that glow at night. The waves are lit internally and are made from Acousti-Mat, a flexible woven plastic mat that can be jumped on by children without losing it’s form. So break out your wolf suit, practice your roar, and “let the wild rumpus start!”
