Elizabeth's Tree House
Dining Hall for Barretstown Camp
A demonstration of architecture’s role in the healing process, Elizabeth’s Tree House is a new dining pavilion for therapeutic camp in Kildare. Serving children recovering from serious illnesses the space forms a timber oasis in the middle of an oak forest. A dynamic yet functional timber diagrid system includes an expressive roof, extensive glazing, and a colorful larch cladding, creating an interior dining space that forms a dialogue with the surrounding lake and forest. Deep connection with nature at all levels promotes user comfort, relaxation, healing, and enchantment.
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Elizabeth 039 s Tree House by McCauley Daye O 039 Connell Architects
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Dining Hall by McCauley Daye O 039 Connell Architects
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McCauley Daye O 039 Connell Architects Elizabeth 039 s Tree House
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McCauley Daye O 039 Connell Architects Dining Hall
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Elizabeth's Tree House Dining Hall Press Releases
Press releases tailored for Elizabeth's Tree House are available in the languages: English.
Elizabeth's Tree House Dining Hall Translations
Our Elizabeth's Tree House translations are now available in a wide range of languages: Eetsaal AF, Salla E Ngrënies SQ, የመመገቢያ አዳራሽ AM, قاعة الطعام AR, Ճաշասենյակ HY, Yemək Salonu AZ, Jantokia EU, Сталовая BE, ডাইনিং হল BN, Blagovaonica BS, Трапезария BG, ထမင်းစားခန်း MY, Menjador CA, Holo Yodyera NY, 食堂 ZH, Sala Da Pranzu CO, Blagovaonica HR, Jídelna CS, Spisestue DA, Eetzaal NL, Manĝejo EO, Söögisaal ET, Ruokasali FI, Salle À Manger FR, O Comedor GL, სასადილო დარბაზი KA, Speisesaal DE, Τραπεζαρία EL, ડાઇનિંગ હોલ GU, Sal Manje HT, Zauren Cin Abinci HA, אולם האוכל HE, डाइनिंग हॉल HI, Étkező HU, Ruang Makan ID, Halla Bia GA, Ime Ụlọ Ebe A Na-Eri Nri IG, Borðstofa IS, La Sala Da Pranzo IT, 食堂 JA, Bale Dhahar JV, Hall ಟದ ಹಾಲ್ KN, Асхана KK, សាលបរិភោគអាហារ KM, Inzu Yo Kuriramo RW, Ашкана KY, 식당 KO, Hewşa Xwarinek KU, Triclinium LA, Iesssall LB, ຫ້ອງຮັບປະທານອາຫານ LO, Valgykla LT, Ēdamistaba LV, Трпезаријата MK, Ny Efitrano Fisakafoana MG, Dewan Makan MS, ഡൈനിംഗ് ഹാൾ ML, Sala Tal-Pranzu MT, Whare Kai MI, डायनिंग हॉल MR, Хоолны Танхим MN, भोजन हल NE, Spisesal NO, ଡାଇନିଂ ହଲ୍ OR, ਡਾਇਨਿੰਗ ਹਾਲ PA, سالن غذاخوری FA, Jadalnia PL, د خواړو هال PS, O Refeitório PT, Sala De Mese RO, Столовая RU, ڊائننگ هال SD, Fale 'ai SM, Трпезарија SR, Tha Talla-Bìdh GD, Imba Yekudyira SN, කෑම ශාලාව SI, Jedáleň SK, Jedilnica SL, Hoolka Cuntada SO, Holo Ea Ho Jella ST, Comedor ES, Dewan Makan SU, Ukumbi Wa Dining SW, Matsal SV, டைனிங் ஹால் TA, డైనింగ్ హాల్ TE, Ошхона TG, ห้องรับประทานอาหาร TH, Naharhana TK, Kainan TL, Yemekhane TR, Ашханә TT, تاماقخانا UG, Їдальня UK, ڈائننگ ہال UR, Ovqatlanish Zali UZ, Nhà Ăn VI, Neuadd Fwyta CY, Ytseal FY, Iholo Lokutyela XH, דיינינג זאַל YI, Gbongan Ile Ijeun YO, Ihholo Lokudlela Liwuhlobo ZU, 食堂 ZY, Kan-Anan CEB, Lumi ʻaina ʻaina HAW, Chav Noj Mov HMN, Dining Hall EN, for global reach.
Elizabeth's Tree House Dining Hall Media Articles
Access our collection of Elizabeth's Tree House articles, ready for use and offered in languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English, Hindi, Italian, Dutch, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Korean, Indonesian, Japanese and Russian.
Unique Properties
Flanked by a secret garden wall and castle landscaping, the radiating diagrid pattern weaves and forms a new building which adopts to the landscape and characteristics of the wider grounds and structures. The building blurs the lines of indoor / outdoor space with irregular shapes and floating terraces. Energetic vibrant colours are used extensively throughout with a sense of fun in mind. A playful place in constant dialogue with nature. A new focal point. An inclusive space for all to enjoy collectively, night and day.
Tags
healing, sustainable, universaldesign, therapeutic, timber
Production Technology
The scheme’s attention to performance extends to its materiality. The building is heavily insulated, achieving an A3 energy rating, while the primary timber structure ensures that walls, roofs, and external cladding are derived from sustainable sources. The entire timber cladding is protected using Sioo, an environmentally-friendly, water-based system, while a secondary aluminum sub-frame allows the timber cladding to be panelised to match the geometric grid lines and natural rigour of the diagrid design.
Design Challenge
Camp is situated in Kildare and provides full dining, sleeping and activities for weekend camps for children and their families affected by cancer and serious illness. The camp helps children and their families deal with the emotional and physiological scars often left after months and years of treatment. Offering a completely free stay at their camp, their experience is based on a therapeutic recreation model leading to recovery, with children leaving the camp with increased confidence, self-esteem and the skills they need to face the rest of their journey to recovery. Camp needed a much-improved dining experience and they wanted this to be a magical place; a bright and airy place; a central fulcrum for the campers which would espouse the ethos of their successful therapeutic recreation model.
Project Duration
The project started in January 2016 and was completed in December 2016 in Co. Kildare, Ireland
Operation Flow
The resulting scheme is functional yet magical. Echoing the therapeutic nature of this medically endorsed camp, the pavilion is a demonstration of the role of architecture in the healing process, where a deep connection with nature at all levels promotes user comfort, relaxation, healing, and enchantment.
Research
Using the therapeutic recreation model the building design was developed to not only respect and preserve its natural habitat but to fully integrate the building and the experience into it. Using natural materials, we created a fun “treehouse” concept with internal trees and a rising volume. Large areas of glass in the walls and roof for natural light are capitalising on the views and rolling landscape, with plenty of colour for “serious fun”. Like other therapeutic centers, the positive impact of well-designed buildings on the human healing process is well documented. Architecture takes a risk in a bid to join in on the celebration of life and healing environment so carefully created in the camp.
Inspiration
Located in an overgrown woodland in the heart of the camp, the new dining hall was imagined as a treehouse in the forest, weaving through the tall oak trees to create a dialogue with nature. In keeping with the camp’s ethos of serious fun, the dining pavilion is envisioned as an enchanted portal surrounded by nature, forming connections with the lake, countryside, and forest life.
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Donal Murphy, 2017. Image #2: Photographer Donal Murphy, 2017. Image #3: Photographer Donal Murphy, 2017. Image #4: Photographer Donal Murphy, 2017. Image #5: Photographer Donal Murphy, 2017.
Project Overview
Elizabeth's Tree House Dining Hall has been a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2019 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2020, a testament to excellence of their work Elizabeth's Tree House Dining Hall.
McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects Press Releases
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Elizabeth's Tree House: A Magical Dining Pavilion for Therapeutic Camp
McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects unveils a new timber oasis in the heart of an oak forest, providing a healing and enchanting dining experience for children recovering from serious illnesses.
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