Posted March 15, 2016 | by Lora Teagarden | in architecture, blog, design

Go have an adventure! [Playhouzz style]

Today’s post is not just a plea for votes on my Playhouzz entry, but also a look at the importance of adventure – both as children and adults.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of adventures that happened in my backyard, or distances from my house no further than a kicker could punt a football. When my sister and I were young, our adventures occurred in the backyard. But in that distance, I could travel to the jungle and climb trees (real trees or our playset) to swing from branches and escape venomous wildlife on the jungle floor. Falling meant getting bitten (or getting a scar because you lost your balance) or having to ward off a jungle cat (your sometimes ornery sister). Other days we would travel to a castle where we would fight off the evil witch (mom said it was nap time). Others we would fly over the Atlantic (seeing how high we could swing).

When we got older, our radius for adventure grew to “as far as you can be but still hear my whistle for dinner”…which typically meant you could find us in the creek behind the house across the street, re-living those jungle adventures with actual wildlife at our feet (true story: leeches are gross). The point is that we were given a safe bubble within which we could play and imagine our place in a world bigger than our house.

I’ve written a variety of posts on this blog about the need for travel, adventure, and continuing to learn, the most recent of which was last week. The ability to start those ideas, imaginations, and play adventures at a young age was (I think) a crucial aspect to my upbringing and adult character. That’s what I think Dallas CASA has been trying to do these last few years with their Playhouse competition and that’s why I jumped at the chance to enter for the first time this year as Houzz picked it up and made it Playhouzz – especially when this year’s theme was announced as “Adventure”. How great would it be to give a kid in your community a safe place to play, test boundaries and ideas, and learn more about the outside world? To let them start experimenting with story themes and imagining a world bigger than their own house – especially when that “house” may not be like what most of us are fortunate enough to call a home. To give them a chance to imagine a far-off world, to escape for an afternoon. Who knows? Maybe those afternoon escapes lead to a jet-setting young adult, traveling to market their young and growing business. If a couple hours on a weekend to design a playhouse could help make even one of those options a reality, I’m in. Let’s help a kid go on an adventure.

So without further ado, I give you the HMS Adventure:

Ahoy, mate! Welcome to the HMS Adventure, where no corner of the world goes uncharted. Climb aboard your fine vessel, check the outboard shiplap and port holes for any potential leaks, and set sail on your next journey. Stow your goods in the companionway and plot your course on the ship’s ribbing. But wait! The radar shows a boat in the distance moving in fast, quick, up to the crow’s nest to check for pirates! Swing the boom and rig in the sail for a fast getaway to safety.

As we all know, imagination is fuel for the best childhood summer days well spent, and oh what journeys we will go on in the HMS Adventure. Perhaps we’ll sail off to where the silk roads port and reload on fabrics, spices, and rescue an Indian princess (or prince!). Maybe it’s a journey far north into the arctic seas to see polar bears and seals – an ocean safari! Wherever the winds blow you, your sturdy ship will get you there in one piece. So gear up, invite your friends over, and go have an adventure!

If you’d like to see more about the design or (hopefully!) vote for me, go here to the Playhouzz competition and “like” the ideabook. You’ll need a Houzz account (annoying, I know), but you can quickly create one by using your email or facebook profile.