Terrific Treehouse Exhibit Opens At The San Antonio Botanical Garden

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--We all have our own visions or memories of treehouses from our childhood days when we gathered materials from the neighborhood to build the "coolest treehouse ever." Now through December 7, visitors can see nine original treehouses displayed at the San Antonio Botanical Garden in an inspiring exhibit for all ages called "Terrific Treehouses." Truly works of art, these designs are not only creative, but many use recycled and sustainable materials.

Local designers were invited to let their imaginations run wild and submit a prototype of their treehouse vision to the "Terrific Treehouse" contest last spring. From the numerous ideas submitted, a panel of nine judges—an architect, a parent, a student, a Botanical Society board member, a community representative, a marketing expert and members of the Garden staff—chose the winning entries.

Each treehouse design is unique—a magic rocket ship designed by a seven-year old, an inspirational feng-shui garden, a whimsical flower fort, a bamboo pavilion with movable walls, a pinwheel windcatcher, a recycled and re-born retreat, a humming Aeolian harp, a Greek sandbox and a treehouse illuminated by LED lights powered by solar panels. The eight winning design teams were given a stipend to construct their treehouses. Most of the construction was done off site. Final touches were added to the designs after they were installed the Botanical Garden.

"I have experienced the excitement that treehouses bring to a public garden setting and to the faces of the visitor," Bob Brackman, San Antonio Botanical Garden director recalls. A treehouse veteran, Bob organized a treehouse exhibit for the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville, Tennessee in 2002. "The imagination of the design community is endless. There are no two treehouses the same. I especially enjoy seeing the combination of this creative talent blended into the natural beauty of our trees at the Garden."

Terrific Treehouses is presented by the San Antonio Botanical Society in partnership with the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) San Antonio and the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. The exhibit is free with paid admission to the Garden. The Botanical Garden—open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day—is located at 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels. The Bistro, located inside the historic Carriage House at the Garden, serves lunch Tuesday through Friday and brunch on weekends. For more information, call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org.

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