Inclusive Design and Immersive Architecture at Pickathon
Every year, Pickathon transforms the scenic Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon, just outside Portland, into a unique convergence of music, art, and community. Pickathon reimagines what a festival can be by creating immersive experiences rooted in sustainability and design. The festival grounds become a handcrafted city, where designers, artists, and hundreds of volunteers collaborate to unveil architecturally distinct spaces that invite people to connect with each other through music and landscape.
In 2025, ZGF Architects and Hoffman Construction volunteered to design and build Timbre Grove, the main stage installation in Pickathon’s largest performance space. Set within the festival’s 80 acres of Oregon woodland, the installation sought to transform sound - its form, texture, and light - into a tangible experience. The team drew inspiration from the organic power of a musical instrument called a djembe drum, extracting abstract forms from its essence as a dynamic percussion instrument. The vision unfolded as a vibrant grove of illuminated “live” drums, strategically shaped and lit to create a rhythmic energy around the stage. Timbre Grove embraced both the performance space and the surrounding field, immersing concertgoers in a rich visual and auditory experience.
Inclusivity was a driving force behind the design. The concept was inspired by ZGF team member Mohamed Fakhry, who is Deaf and challenged the team to explore how music could be experienced through light, movement, and immersive elements rather than sound alone. By engaging multiple senses, Timbre Grove created a shared experience that could be enjoyed regardless of a person’s ability to hear. The modular drum structures were also designed to be accessible to people of different ages, sizes, and abilities. Several became places to gather, incorporating benches and swings within their interiors that offered moments of rest throughout the festival. These playful elements encouraged attendees to interact with the installation in imaginative and unexpected ways.
The stage design centers around a sculptural field of “drum” modules, each placed to naturally reflect the ground’s topography. The varying heights serve dual purposes: some offer countertop-height surfaces for gathering, while others become informal seating.
Like everything at Pickathon, Timbre Grove was designed with sustainability in mind. The festival relies on volunteers to build its Creative Neighborhoods and follows a “leave no trace” philosophy that prioritizes reusing materials after the event. In response, the installation was conceived as a simple kit of parts that volunteers with no construction experience could assemble in the week leading up to the festival. It also needed to be carefully deconstructed without damaging the materials so they could be given a second life after the event.
When the festival concluded, the disassembled lumber was donated to three Portland organizations to support ongoing community projects. DeRose Community Bridge used the materials for its community kitchen. Future Generations Collaborative incorporated them into Barbie’s Village, a tiny home community for houseless Native parents with young children. Kapwa BIPOC Nature Sanctuary, with support from NOMA PDX members, will use the donated lumber to create spaces where people of color can gather and connect with nature.
Integrated lighting animates the drums in synchronization with the music, transforming the space into a dynamic, multi-sensory experience.
For one weekend each August, Pickathon becomes more than a music festival. It is a living experiment in architecture, creativity, and community, demonstrating how thoughtful design can create meaningful experiences while leaving a lasting impact long after the music ends.
