It could be a stable to house your trusty stallion, a ship for exploring outer space, or barracks from which to weather an epic afternoon’s battling. A rite of passage in any childhood, the humble living room blanket fort has entertained millions in wild and playful imagination. But, like anything in life, it is always at its most satisfying when done properly, and architect Dan Gibbons believes it is never too early to teach the basics of solid foundations.
Gibbons has spent his career designing and building homes as director of London-based Ape Architecture & Design. However, his skills in the field are put to the real test at home, where he guides his five-year-old son – a budding architect who occasionally has to fend off evil Star Wars villains – on the failsafe principles of building a protective blanket fort.
Here, Gibbons shares some of his expert tips and tricks.
Draw inspiration from the real world
Real-world principles apply to a blanket fort as they would to a palace, says Gibbons. “Structural stability is an inherent requirement of a blanket fort, and the principles for structural stability are the same whether you’re working in concrete or sofa cushions,” he says. A good place to start is picking the build site well – either an open space where you can lay foundations from scratch or incorporating a sofa that could make a perfect first wall. A blanket stretched between two chairs either side of a sofa can transform it into a double-story fortress, says Gibbons.
Pick the right materials
Choosing the right materials is key to your success, he adds. “You’ve got to think about how it performs spanning structures,” he says. Compression elements – the parts of the structure designed to carry the load – are best formed out of dense sofa cushions. “They’re good and rigid,” says Gibbons. But to create doors or a ceiling he suggests choosing something more flexible, such as a duvet cover or blanket. To make the most of a small space, Gibbons suggests suspending the roof. A washing line is ideal, he says, to string up between a door handle and a window handle. Then, throw a blanket over the top and be sure to weigh down the ends with heavy pillows.
Pick the right design
Choosing your design comes down to thinking about the purpose of the fort. While Gibbons admits he usually takes a back seat in the design process, enabling his five-year-old to take the lead, he does offer a guiding hand. “The teepee is a classic,” he says. Finding some long poles such as brooms and mops works well to create a basic three-legged tripod design. “Then you need to bind them all together – a hair scrunchie is a good option for this,” he explains. “Then there’s the ridge tent, which is basically a house-of-cards approach where one pillow is propped against the other to make a tent – you can’t really go wrong with that.”
But don’t be afraid to experiment. To add some interest, Gibbons suggests using a stack of rigid square cushions to create a Ronchamp-style window. “I prefer to steer him in the direction of the modernist movement – a flat roof and square forms, using the big sofa cushions.”
Think practically
While a blanket fort must be protective, for a cosy afternoon’s play it pays to think about comfort and practicality. Much of Gibbons’s work is based around making low-energy homes, and he suggests many of the same principles that apply to home insulation should be used when approaching a blanket fort. “People are always very keen to use natural materials such as wool – real buildings are stuffed with the same type of wool that’s used in some pillows,” he says. “But whereas blankets and quilts are good for roof structures, they’re not the strongest in terms of insulation, so you have to use them sparingly.”
Get creative
Finally, putting the finishing touches on the fort gives you a good chance to get creative. “A well-placed laundry basket can make a good observation tower or hobbit door,” suggests Gibbons. “Some lighting is important as well – the odd table lamp is a popular choice for interiors.” And, if it’s a certain period or style you’re after, you can use different materials to fine-tune the details. “A nice bolster cushion makes a good decorative column if you want to go down the Prince Charles Poundbury route.”
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