Client: Bay Area Discovery Museum

Overview

Experiential elevated play sculpture inspired by natural elements, the Gumnut Grove is a sculptured play structure that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and is utilized by children agers 2-10 to discover and explore. The piece is located at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) which houses indoor and outdoor exhibits. The piece is made up of 3 bridges connected by copper cladded “Gumnuts” accessible by ropes, climbing structures, and a custom stainless steel slide, the design was inspired by the forms and a eucalyptus tree’s fruit which is found in the area. The Gizmo team used many different fabrication approaches to create the Gumnuts, bridges, climbers, and slide.

Goals

Repurposing an underutilized space on the Bay Area Discovery Museum campus in Sausalito CA, Gumnut Grove introduces a climbing activity area that allows children aged 5–10 to refine their gross motor skills, explore risk and develop confidence in a safe environment.

Process

Award winning architecture firm Olson Kundig provided the site inspired concept that Gizmo and Surface Design Landscape Architects used to design and engineer the custom play structure. Gizmo utilized its digital fabrication and welding studios to create all the steel forms, structural bridge components, and custom copper gumnut housings, while adhering to rigid playground safety standards and the updated 2019 California Building Code to implement all the components.

Additional Information

"The campus-wide master plan and renovation honors the architectural integrity of the historic site and the museum’s child centered mission while transforming the experience for guests. To reimagine the museum exhibits, the design team collaborated with early learning experts from BADM’s in-house research division and the fabricators Gizmo Art Production. New exhibits and play areas seamlessly incorporate the latest research into interactive activities and environments. Within the museum grounds, children and their caregivers can learn about the world around them—and discover the impact of their own imagination, curiosity, and innovation. The playful exhibits and interactive landscape experiences celebrate the regional landscape while engaging users through intentional learning opportunities."