Three Winning Designs Selected for Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s New Backcountry Casitas

Next round of nature-based playhouses begin construction this fall, open to the public Oct. 24 at All Hallows Evening family celebration 

Santa Barbara, Calif. – September 9, 2025 – Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has selected three winning design teams for its 2025 Backcountry Casitas program, an innovative design competition that invites creatives from near and far to design unique temporary Casitas – imaginative, sustainable playhouses designed to spark curiosity and environmental stewardship – located in the Garden’s popular 4.5-acre children’s Backcountry Section. Construction on the new Casitas begins this fall, with a public unveiling set for the Garden’s annual All Hallows Eve family celebration on Friday, October 24, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., and open thereafter for the public to discover. 

The Garden’s open call for nature-inspired Casitas concepts received more submissions this year than ever before, and three winning designs were selected. The new Casitas will replace the existing installations and showcase a diversity of approaches to play—blending art, architecture, storytelling, and sustainable materials.   

“The Casitas remind us why we created the Backcountry: to foster a connection to native plant landscapes through play and discovery,” said Scot Pipkin, the Garden’s director of education. “This year’s designs will integrate uniquely into the Backcountry’s existing features. We can’t wait for families to experience the wonder these new designs will bring to the Garden.”  

The selected designs showcase a range of creativity, sustainability, and storytelling. This year’s winning Casitas are:  

Gnome Home by Matthew Caliguire, Principal at Allen Construction  

This woodland playhouse is more than a whimsical retreat—it’s a purposeful structure designed for children and families to explore in the oak woodland and riparian setting. Inspired by folklore, gnomes serve as forest guardians, aligning with the conservation values of the Garden and Allen Construction. The Casita will also highlight fire-ready concepts and materials, healthy home design principles, and be built with the help of Allen staff, family, friends and volunteers. Playful details include gnome accents, a roof hatch, and a hammock-like nook, while native plantings will help the structure blend seamlessly into the landscape.  

Live Oak Loop by Kylie Schmidt, Schmidt Studios  

The Live Oak Loop is a wander-and-play path where kids (and grown-ups too!) can run, explore, or meander along its undulating edge. The loop encourages open imaginative play and celebrates the vibrance of California native plants. Built on a modular wooden base painted with colors drawn from the landscape, the pathway uses reclaimed wood planks and includes two exploration tunnels. A salvaged eucalyptus pillar serves as a central focal point, adorned with canvas art flags depicting California native species. Native flowering plants will sail from the top of the pillar, while a climbing vine grows upward from the base, celebrating the resilience of native species. 

Tres Osos Negros by Cody and Karen Westheimer, New West Studios  

Inspired by our local black bear and the Goldilocks fairy tale, Tres Osos Negros greets visitors with life-sized topiary bears at the entrance to a cave-like structure modeled after Arlington Peak. Inside, families will find three beds, bowls, spoons, and chairs handcrafted from local wood, inviting them to step into the story. By blending folklore with regional ecology, the installation offers multiple layers of engagement—visual, tactile, and narrative—sparking curiosity and encouraging exploration for visitors of all ages. 

First introduced in 2022, the Backcountry Casitas program is rooted in the Garden’s commitment to nature-based play and environmental education. Each playhouse remains installed for up to two years, ensuring that the Backcountry section of the Garden continues to evolve with fresh opportunities for interaction, imagination, and connection to California’s native ecology.  

The community is invited to explore the new Casitas when they officially open to the public during All Hallows Eve on Friday, Oct. 24, a seasonal celebration filled with family-friendly activities, educational programming, and Garden-wide exploration – costumes encouraged. Click here to register.  

For more information on the Backcountry Casitas program and to see past winning designs, visit https://sbbotanicgarden.org/explore/sections/backcountry/   

About Backcountry  

Opened in June 2022, Backcountry is an immersive garden where young people (and the young at heart) can climb, jump, run, explore, play, and connect with nature. Encompassing over 4-acres west of Mission Creek, it features inviting and distinct areas designed to inspire unstructured, self-directed nature experiences. The Garden’s newest space is designed for all to enjoy but is focused on kids aged five to 13 years old. For more information, visit https://sbbotanicgarden.org/explore/sections/backcountry/.