Cottages for Kids

Tools of adventure found in the Spin Sail Playhouse
Building on a design born back in architecture school that was later developed into an entry into the Seaside Landmark competition, the Spin Sail playhouse was a creation of Richard and Kim Fouquet of Fouquet Architecture and Interior Design. They and builder Terry Smith of Auburn Builders have joined forces and will bring to life this concept of wind and motion.
Spin Sail is one of the imaginative playhouses being built and auctioned at this year?s Cottages for Kids at Rosemary Beach in November. Cottages for Kids is a fundraising effort that benefi ts Children?s Volunteer Health Network Inc., a faith based 501(c)3 non-profi t organization that facilitates free access to medical, dental and mental health care for uninsured and underinsured children. In an effort to raise money for this cause, builders and architects come together to craft ?cottages? that are subsequently auctioned off with the proceeds going to the charity.
?Our real inspiration is Evan, our six year old son,? said Kim Fouquet, ?He has a vivid imagination and plenty of energy. He loves anything that is kinetic.?
When designing the Cottages for Kids? playhouse, the Fouquets wanted to provide a rich backdrop to the fertile imagination of a young person and also have it respond to the elements in its surroundings. ?We looked to the tools of adventure. Be it on the high seas or outer space, all adventures required gadgets.?
The obvious gadget to the Spin Sail playhouse is the sail, which can move by its own power in the wind, or can be spun by the wheel in the interior chamber. Powered by their own movements and imagination, kids can take the ladder to the deck and fi nd a looking glass that ?just might? help one to see into the outer dimensions of space or the depths of the sea. Slide down and crawl inside to fi nd a sound generator that, depending on the adventure of the day, ?could be? a tracking device or the sound of an ensuing helicopter.
Spin Sail and the rest of the cottages will be unveiled at the Cottages for Kids grand opening on Nov. 8, on the East Long Green at Rosemary Beach. The auction date is set for Nov. 29. The cottages will be open for kids to play on between those dates.
Spin Sail will be built green, as is a requirement of all the playhouses this year. ?One of the products we are using this year to build our playhouse is called BluWood,? said Richard. ?Paula Coker of Edgefield Lumber Company (the product manufacturer) introduced us to this product which is mold, fungus and termite resistant; has virtually no VOC?s (Volatile Organic Compounds); is non-corrosive and best of all is recyclable!?
Kate Johnson, CFK 2008 chair was quoted as saying, ?It is so exciting to see building groups like Fouquet-Auburn get so into building green that they fi nd something as earth friendly as Blu-Wood!?
Kim and Richard Fouquet are natives of New Orleans. They both earned degrees from the University of Southwest Louisiana: Kim?s degree in interior design and Richard?s in architecture. During their last years in Design College the two donated countless hours to the design and construction of the Children?s Museum of Acadiana in Lafayette. In December 1999, with a strong interest in sustainability and traditional neighborhood design, they moved to 30A. In March of 2007 they joined forces and formed Fouquet Architecture and Interior Design.
CVHN is a faith-based, 501(c)3 organization that seeks to enhance the lives of uninsured and underinsured school aged children by facilitating free immediate access to medical, dental and mental health care. To learn more about CVHN or volunteer, visit the CVHN Web site at www.cvhnkids.org. To learn more about Fouquet Architecture and Interior Design contact Richard at [email protected], Kim at [email protected].