Artful structures by Thomas Randall-Page bring attention to local ecosystems

Thomas Randall-Page is a multi-talented individual who works as an architect, artist, and educator. His projects are known for their combination of playfulness and depth, and they often feature elements of movement and surprise. The materials and construction techniques used in his projects are carefully chosen and expertly executed, resulting in strong tectonic and material logic.

Growing up in London and Devon, Randall-Page was exposed to the creative atmosphere of his father's sculpture studios, where he learned to approach play and making as interchangeable. This mindset is evident in the work of his studio and is also taught in the course on material play and experimental making that he teaches at the Architectural Association.

Randall-Page, who received an education in architecture at the Glasgow School of Art and London Met and worked with 6a Architects and Heatherwick Studio before establishing his own practice in 2014, has a particular fondness for wood due to its warmth and versatility. This is evident in three of his projects - a recently completed barn, a soon-to-be-constructed competition-winning treehouse, and an imaginative concept for a salvaged ship. 

While these projects showcase the studio's playful approach to woodworking, there is a deeper purpose behind them. As Randall-Page explains, "The ongoing climate breakdown presents our generation with great challenges, but also a clear sense of purpose. We must change the way we build and what we build, and learn from the pre-extractive and pre-fossil-fuel generations."

The Linden Thing, a design proposal that was awarded in a competition, is a unique treehouse that also serves as a teahouse. It will be located at Kew Gardens and will be made using cross-laminated timber (CLT) and branches that have been forked. These branches will be sourced from trees that have been cut down due to ash dieback. The treehouse will feature a lower level with a grid of Y-shaped columns that are sandwiched between two thin CLT slabs and left open on all sides. Above this, there is a grid of taller columns that are covered with translucent theatrical gauze. The treehouse will wrap around and sit against a silver lime tree, which will enhance visitors' appreciation of its trunk, flowers, and dappled canopy. 

‘Cody Dock Rolling Bridge is a fitting example of the practice’s ability to bring together movement, material logic and artful execution’

 

 Floating Forest is a project that takes a variety of maritime plants and trees on a tour of port cities as a celebration of rewilding. The project utilizes a large cruise ship, with the plants and trees serving as the cargo. Within the ship, there are several hidden vaults containing a café, shop, exhibition hall, and cinema. These vaults provide visitors with immersive environments that encourage them to think about their role in the biosphere.

In 2020, the Art Barn project transformed a cow barn in Devon's rolling fieldscape and the Teign Valley in Dartmoor National Park into a contemporary art space. The building, made of cedar, cork, steel, and stone, serves as a peaceful space for creating, storing, and displaying art. At 250m2, the solar-powered, off-grid building has a minimalist design, with a lack of clutter, sockets, wires, pipes, and radiators contributing to a sense of lightness and delicacy. Its exterior features folding and sliding elements, adding playful touches. Despite its roots in traditional farm buildings, the Art Barn project is more refined than rugged, with a focus on art rather than its barn-like appearance.

Material selection in the architecture and design firm, Randall-Page, is based on the specific context of each project. One example of this is the Cody Dock Rolling Bridge, a steel structure that can be manually rotated to allow boats to pass. The firm's approach to design emphasizes the integration of movement, material logic, and aesthetics. According to the firm's principal, Nile Bridgeman, the company's portfolio is characterized by its complexity, nuance, and incorporation of both high and low-tech elements. These multi-faceted projects are not limited to a single idea or inspiration, but rather draw from various sources to become more than the sum of their parts.