Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge

Transformative, creative sanctuaries that draw on past childhood memories and dreams, coupled with sustainable building design practices and materials, are consistent themes in this year’s Cubby House Challenge designs.
The resulting cubbies are some of the most fun and unique to be included in the Cubby House Challenge, offering the ultimate creative play zones for any child, or group of children, lucky enough to own one.
With ball pits, LEGO, blackboard walls and a firman’s pole, this year’s cubbies capture every child’s cubbydream.
Considered as some of Australia’s top building and architecture firms, those involved are not only competing to be ‘Best in Show’, but more importantly, they’re fighting to prove to the disadvantaged young people of Australia that they are committed to making a difference in their lives.
Their innovative, ‘creativity-fostering’ cubbies will be on display in the Cubby House Village at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) from Wednesday 26 March to Sunday 30 March 2014, with the auction of the cubbies taking place at 3pm on the Sunday – go to www.kuc.org.au/get-involved/kids-under-cover-events/ cubby-house-challenge for more information.
2014 Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge Teams:
Carr Architecture and De Carolis: ‘King of the Castle’:Drawing inspiration from the dreams of young children wanting to be the ‘King’s’ of their own castle, this cubby is a royal’s playground. Features include: a fluted tower top, fireman’s pole and porthole windows with plenty of room to imagine and play.
Studio You Me & Tandem with Fridcorp & Luxe Property: ‘Cloud Climb’: Modern, with clean architectural lines, this cubby features a kitchen with island bench, blackboard walls, internal stair case to first floor loft, operable roof and a suspended hammock floor, all which add to additional space, comfort and unique design.
Greg Lawson for Little Green Room: ‘Caravan Me Happy’:Made up of completely sustainable products, this ‘mini caravan’ cubby is functional in form and encapsulates the warm and fun memories of Australian summer holidays.
Randal Hampson and Porter Davis Homes: ‘The Hatch’:With angled walls, this cubby demonstrates visual stability that gives it a more natural form. Features include: Weathertex cladding, plywood and a rust iron finish to the entrance, play bench, comfy corner seating and a colourful ball pit, a fun place to hideaway.
dKO with Madisson Projects for Cedar Woods Properties: ‘The Grubby’: Designed to be the perfect personal sanctuary, this cubby can be your house in the woods, your tool box, a building space, whatever you need it to be. Features include: an interactive pegboard wall, climbing net, dress-ups area, chalkboards and an array of creative spaces.

With nearly 45,000 homeless and at-risk young people in our country, the need for ongoing funding is critical. This figure has more than doubled over the last five years.
Since its inception, Kids Under Cover’s Cubby House Challenge has raised over $200,000, and this year the entrants aim to raise more money than ever before.
The Cubby House Challenge is supported by Gold Partners hockingstuart and Dulux.
“This year’s cubbies really capture the fun and creative soul of children,” said Kids Under Cover National CEO, Jo Swift, “they have all been designed with real insight into childhood dreams and play patterns. The standard of design and construction of this year’s cubbies is phenomenal and we hope that the public will get as excited about them as we are, so we can raise valuable funds for youth homelessness.”
“We are honoured and humbled by the calibre of our supporters in 2014 – the incredible architects and builders who have so generously given up their time and resources to create these really special cubbies.”
All participants in the 2014 Cubby House Challenge have donated their services to the cause, and in doing so compete for the Cubby House Challenge Awards including the Dulux Cubby House Challenge Colour Award, hockingstuart Best Presented for Sale award, Best Craftsmanship, People’s Choice (public vote), and overall Best in Show.
Kids Under Cover urges everyone to get involved, either by purchasing a raffle ticket online at http://cubbyhousechallenge2014.gofundraise.com.au, or attend the auction at MIFGS and bid on one of the cubbies.