Fun Meets Philanthropy in a Lively Playhouse

“I definitely consulted my inner child for this project,” says architect Stephanie Horowitz, of ZeroEnergy Design, a firm that focuses on ecologically sensible design. ZED principal Adam Prince’s 5-year-old son, Coleman, also provided input as the ideas took shape.

Charity, education, sustainability and most important, fun, ruled the design of this colorful playhouse, called The Green EsCape. The small structure includes a climbing wall, an herb garden, a spot inside for secret meetings and to play school, and a deck for lounging. A team of people and companies donated their time and materials to design it, and it was raffled off to raise money for the Housing Assistance Corporation. Let’s take a peek.

Photography by Roe Osborn

Outside the playhouse a chaise built for two can be moved to follow the sun. A reclaimed shade sail keeps the inside from getting too hot on the south-facing side.


“We wanted to use a natural material palette, with lots of wood inside and out,” Horowitz says. The siding is rough-sawn spruce boards, which can stand up to the weather. “We looked through a box of crayons to choose the colors,” she says. They painted right onto plywood paneling to create a dynamic facade.


One end of the building serves as a climbing wall; recycled tires provide a soft landing.


A door on the climbing wall lets kids into the playhouse.





The structure itself, not counting the deck and landing spot, is 8 by 9 feet. Built-in cubbies offer plenty of storage for games, toys and other play equipment. A large chalkboard provides a spot for playing school, hosting club meetings and drawing.

The blue rocking chair is made of recycled milk bottles. Windows and skylights naturally light the space, but there are also crank lights and a crank radio.


Operable windows and doors allow for cross breezes to cool the inside of the playhouse. The opening on the left is a secret kid-size sliding door. Upstairs there’s a loft complete with a telescope.

The playhouse has inspired some tiny-house ideas for the firm, which is using it as a jumping-off point for designing accessory dwellings.

Tour some very tiny houses


The playhouse helps sustain an attached succulent and herb garden; integral roof gutters catch rainwater and run down to a rain barrel with a spigot for filling watering cans.


The playful modern boxes repeat on the back in the same pattern as the front, and hold some secret storage space. Double storage shelves that hold balls and other equipment swing open.

“This project was definitely a lot of fun,” Horowitz says. And for a good cause, too: More than $50,000 was raised for local children who receive services through emergency shelters and housing programs. Everything from the plants to the labor was donated by the design team and sponsors.

Project team:ZeroEnergy DesignCape AssociatesShepley Wood Products


Material and product sponsors:Fresh InteriorsAnderson CorporationVeluxSturgis Boat WorksSears Home CenterUpper Cape Tech

URL: Fun Meets Philanthropy in a Lively Playhouse http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22942.html