‘a tree four seasons – season II’ by ulf mejergren + antti laitinen
we present “One Tree Four Seasons – Season II”
Follows the first part of their “One Tree Four Seasons” series, Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) and Finnish artist Antti Laitinen unveil “Season II” of their collaborative work. As mentioned in designboom’s previous coverage, the duo works on a specific tree to create four different projects, one for each season, using the available materials found in nature. ‘Some of the materials that nature has to offer can only be found during certain periods of the year, making each project a reflection of that particular time,’ explains UMA.
step into ulf mejergren + antti laitin’s primitive concert room
In fact, given how it’s the star of the series, each variation will take advantage of the tree’s different seasonal appearances. The chosen tree stands alone in a field south of Stockholm, nestled on a small hill of overgrown stones. Its current location and condition is the result of an old farm practice of clearing the fields of obstructions and placing the trees in one place, creating small islands.
That said, for Season II, which started in August 2022, Ulf Mejergren (see more here) and Antti Laitinen (see more here) gathered hay from the surrounding field to create a floor and seating inside the structure as well as interior walls while reconfiguring the tree’s crown into a roof-like volume. The resulting design offers a primitive concert space. Once it was finished, a local string quartet known as the July Quartet was invited to perform a performance inside the tree as a tribute to it. Outside the entrance, the duo added temporary stairs made from hay bales to give the musicians access indoors.
the concert venue with seating and interior walls made of hay from the surrounding fields
turn the chapel into a roof-like peak