The Respite Forest at once engages individual interactivity and at the same time encourages unengaged pedestrian activity as a whole. The project is formally and structurally derived directly from systems in nature and abstracted to enliven the space in lighthearted and natural way. It is at once an object and a space. Due to its commanding presence in a space, the Respite Forest is not only a host for these social situations, it is a catalyst. The sculpture is designed to become an environment that can accommodate a variety of social scenarios, including both small intimate conversations around the trunks and large group gatherings. One can be beneath the site specific protective canopy of the forest with its ever-changing colors and dynamic shadows and yet simultaneously retain a connection to the exterior urban environment. It is meant to provide a moment of respite, of calm and thoughtful enlightenment within the chaotic urban context.