Hachi House

Competition entry to design a new form of children's playhouse, placing second

Project date

2016

Role

Design lead

Firm

Koko Architecture + Design

Hachi, meaning "bee" in Japanese, is a build-it-yourself playhouse that promotes imagination through infinite possible forms, allowing children to mould their own adventure. The soft plush fabric upholstered noodle can be wrapped, laid or twisted into almost any shape. 

Primary responsibilities:​

• Lead design + fabrication drawings

• Source materials and fabricator

• Liaise with awarding body and manage budget

Concept​

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A child’s imagination is limitless, Hachi provides a safe, fun and creative building material to give form to the designs of the child’s mind (or an adult’s)!

Construction​ 

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Upholstered in woven loop fabric, each piece has a lattice of hook strips sewn onto the surface to create a self-sticking surface. 

The core is a soft foam rolled to create a plush structure that holds it's form.

Prototype

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Hachi placed second in the National playhouse design competition run by the AIA in conjunction with Houzz, commissioning a full scale prototype.