This project is for two structures to be placed on the bank of Kielder Water, Northumberland. The structures will provide a stopping place for visitors walking or cycling along the lakeside path. They will also provide visible markers or destination points from which to begin or end a walk or bike-ride.
For this project we are embracing the man-made nature of Kielder Water and Forest. We like to think of the area as a stage set or backdrop against which we can tell a story. Within the story, the water and forest are completely natural and our built proposal is to create evidence of the story’s characters and their adventures.
Robin’s Hut is on the North bank, on the edge of the woodland amongst fir tress and rocks. Robin wanted to live by the woods where he loves to climb trees and play with the woodland animals. He built himself a simple wooden structure that he clad in timber shingles on this site surrounded by water that he felt gave it a remote, island-like feel.
The cabin that Freya built for Robin is in the image of what she imagined Robin’s woodland home to be like. She chose a spot directly opposite and lined up with Robin’s Hut, to give Robin the best chance of seeing her Cabin across the lake. For the walls she arranged the strongest branches from thick to thin. And for the roof she made an enchanted forest ceiling with twisted branches tickling each other. She put Foxgloves at the entrance to invite the fairies in, then she pressed everything tight together so they would be strong and crisp and last forever. She modeled it on her flower press and balanced it up high on the tallest straightest stems she could find.
When she saw Robin rowing away, Freya cried tears of gold and wrapped the cabin in them.