Designed as part of the Treehouses at Kew Exhibition that will take place from April 2023, ‘Sokan Pot’ is conceived as a protective, inhabitable ring encircling the distinctive ‘Sokan’ style double trunk. 

The plan is formed from a series of concentric circles, emanating from the trunk, and mimics the rings found on a tree trunk. An inner ring provides a route around the tree whilst the outer ring is expressed as a solid timber mass, with niches carved out to provide spaces for interpretation material and opportunities to sit and shelter. The outer ring has a sinuous organic form which derives from a cross section of the tree’s trunk.

Externally the gently tapering walls evoke the form of a pot, referencing the origins of the tree. Clad in black stained timber, alluding to the black bark from which the tree gets its name, the pavilion will have a bold and enigmatic presence in the landscape, stimulating curiosity and drawing visitors in. The pot is split, like the tree, forming an entrance that accommodates the low-lying branch adjacent to the path. 

Just as the enclosure offers protection to the tree, it also provides a space of quiet shelter for visitors to experience the tree in a distinctive new setting.