Studio in the Woods: Site-specific design and build workshops in forested landscapes

Studio in the Woods is an ongoing exploration of material, site and collaborative construction, bringing together architects, artists and students in remote woodland settings. Across multiple years, Root and Erect has contributed to a series of live builds, each testing spatial and environmental ideas through direct engagement with place. Projects range from a leaky dam in Wyre Forest (2019), responding to seasonal flooding and offering moments of pause, to a forest funnel (2018) encouraging biodiversity by drawing light through a manipulated tree canopy. Each intervention is shaped by close observation, minimal means, and a spirit of responsive making. The use of biodegradable materials and local timber enables structures to age, shift or be reclaimed by the landscape over time.

While the formal outcomes vary, the ethos of each build remains consistent: collaboration, experimentation and shared authorship. Ideas emerge from walking, sketching, and conversation on site, often developing spontaneously during construction. The projects invite public interaction and reflect the specific social and ecological conditions of their environment. Early installations such as the Rolling Hills Lounger (2010) and Transition Piece (2011) investigated material tension, communal rest and topographic movement. Later works, like the Woven Canopy (2009), addressed forest management cycles and timber waste. These annual gatherings continue to offer a counterpoint to conventional practice - prioritising slowness, direct engagement with materials, and a collective relationship with land.