A Refreshed Sculpture Garden Hub

Walker Publishing

Flatpak, 2025. Photo: Kameron Herndon. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

Nestled next to the Cowles Pavilion and Regis Prominade on the west side of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden sits a one-room, modular prefabricated house designed by the Minneapolis-based Lazor/Office. Another piece that marries form and function, Flatpak in the Garden is unique among the various garden structures for its heavy use by Walker public programs.

Since its installation in the garden following the exhibition Some Assembly Required: Contemporary Fabricated Houses (2005–06), the Flatpak has served many critical roles—as the “Field Office” for the beloved Open Field program, as the club house for Artist Designed Mini Golf, and most recently, as the base of operations for educators during the summer months in the garden.

Through its many uses, the well-loved Flatpak started to show wear in the summer of 2024, until Walker partners TimberTech by AZEK and Bloomberg Philanthropies offered to help restore the building to its original luster—and then some! The new TimberTech deck, made with up to 85% recycled and sustainable materials, will stand up to the Minnesota weather and high foot traffic, providing a lifespan much longer than natural timber. In addition to the deck, new panels, including vinyl graphics provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies, have improved signage and wayfinding. They connect garden visitors with the Walker’s galleries and help showcase the amazing digital resources available through the Walker’s guide on Bloomberg Connects. The Walker is grateful to TimberTech by AZEK and Bloomberg Philanthropies for this generous in-kind support.