STUDIO IN THE WOODS MARKS 20 YEARS OF HANDS-ON TIMBER LIVE-BUILDS
Marking the 20th anniversary of the architectural live-build summer school Studio in the Woods (SiTW), a new documentary short titled Crossing, Lookout, Horizon records the initiative’s 2026 session hosted at the Architectural Association’s (AA) Hooke Park campus in Dorset, UK. Founded two decades ago by Piers Taylor of Invisible Studio alongside architects Meredith Bowles, Kate Darby, Gianni Botsford, and Peter Clegg, with early mentorship from Ted Cullinan, the program functions as a hands-on pedagogical alternative to traditional studio-based design education.
viewing completed projects in the forest
THREE STRUCTURES EXAMINE IN-SITU MILLING AND DIRECT FABRICATION
Operating without predetermined briefs, the annual workshop convenes roughly 50 students, practitioners, and timber specialists over an intensive four-day build cycle. Participants design and assemble 1:1 structural interventions using timber harvested and milled directly from the surrounding woodland. Sited within Hooke Park’s working forest, the 2026 iteration produced three site-specific timber installations, Crossing, Lookout, and Horizon, testing material optimization, reciprocal framing, and direct fabrication methods.
working in teams to create structures
architects AND TIMBER FRAMERS CONVERGE FOR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Across its twenty-year history, Studio in the Woods has convened a broad network of practitioners, structural engineers, and timber fabricators to lead its on-site workshops. The teaching roster includes Stirling Prize winner Niall McLaughlin, Lebanese-French architect Lina Ghotmeh, and collaborative design practice Architecture 00. Instruction pairs architectural theory with structural pragmatism through contributions from master timber framer Charley Brentnall, former Hooke Park director Martin Self, Lee Ivett of Baxendale, and structural engineers Tim Lucas (Price & Myers) and Toby McClean (Tall Engineers). Additional past workshop leaders include Akos Juhasz, Fergus Feilden of Feilden Fowles, Smith Mordak, Shin Egashira of the Architectural Association, Hannah Durham, Zoe Berman, and Je Ahn of Studio Weave. This multi-disciplinary teaching body grounds the program in a synthesis of structural calculation, joinery craft, and material testing directly in the field.
enjoying the ‘lookout’ structure firsthand
film DOCUMENTS COLLECTIVE WOODLAND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Parallel to the physical construction, the 2026 iteration integrated a specialized film mentorship program directed by architectural documentarians Nyima Murry and Jim Stephenson. Designed to lower barriers of entry into architectural cinematography for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, an open call selected three architecture students with limited film experience: Tong Hao, Jaime Nelson, and Hamani Altraiji. Following technical modules on visual storytelling, equipment rigging, and sound recording, the fellows embedded within the Hooke Park working forest for four days. Working from a documentary brief devised by SiTW co-founder Piers Taylor of Invisible Studio, the film team tracked the live assembly of the three installations, Crossing, Lookout, and Horizon, recording structural trials, ambient woodland acoustics, and real-time timber manipulation to produce a permanent document of the collective live-build methodology.
the ‘crossing’ structure is enjoyed by a workshop participant
even in the woods, construction safety is important
many hands are required to fit structures in place
teams must work together to erect structures
Hooke Park provides the perfect setting
the workshop environment is inspiring in itself
the workshop allows for groups to prepare the materials
structures are prepared before being carried to site
time is spent crafting materials in the workshop
project info:
name: Crossing, Lookout, Horizon
initiative: Studio in the Woods
architect: Invisible Studio | @invisible_studio
lead architect: Piers Taylor
founders: Piers Taylor (Invisible Studio), Kate Darby, Meredith Bowles (Mole Architects), Gianni Botsford, Peter Clegg (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)
early mentor: Ted Cullinan
film directors, mentors: Nyima Murry, Jim Stephenson
student filmmakers: Tong Hao, Jaime Nelson, Hamani Altraiji
location: Architectural Association (AA) Hooke Park, Dorset, UK
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
The post live-build documentary captures 1:1 timber pavilions at studio in the woods workshop appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
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