The winning design, Melon Colony, was constructed at the Minnesota Science Museum's Big Backyard during summer 2010. Congratulations to the members of the winning design team: Matt Kumka & Carol Hejl (pictured), Jon Mcaab & Eric Holt (not pictured).

Top Designs

The top nine designs from the competition were featured in the exhibition. Below are the pictures they submitted showing their designs, along with an excerpt from the judges' comments about each design as well as other information the designers chose to share.

Melon Colony

Design Team : Matt Kumka, Jon Mcaab, Carol Hejl, Eric Holt

Judges appreciated its "integration of water & melon growing structure into the larger context of the urban environment, while still being very flexible & movable."

Untitled

Design Team : Peter Lawrence, George Johnson

Judges said it is "one of the best examples of maximizing uses in a small footprint."

The Chain Gang

Designer : Anthony Baguss

Judges liked this design's "economic & quick construction with flexible layout."

PRI Melon Trellis

Designer : Alexander Watchman

Judges liked that it is "easily built & inexpensive." Gardeners on the jury felt like they could go out & build it.

La Gordita Acequia Melon Tree

Designer : Michael Winikoff

Judges found it "aesthetically enticing" and appreciated that "an insulating blanket works well with proposed structure."

Sun Path Trellis

Design Team : Debra Schneider, Nicole Schneider

Judges appreciated this design's "thoughtful approach to sun path angle/altitude."

The following three designs were chosen from those submitted by junior high students at Great River School, with the support of teachers Sam O'Brien and Michael Flood.

Untitled

Design Team : Nabil Azzouzi, Amber Honeycut, Lukas Anderson

Judges felt the design is "light & airy -- great for beans (easily harvested)."

Flying Tiger’s Eye

Design Team : Carlo Spinale, Hanna Bassewitz, Sam Smith, Haley Hoium, Alec Malenfant

Judges were impressed by the "sturdy design with water storage at base."

The Water Diamond

Design Team : Norah Swift, Lance Johnson, Abe Awes, Seamus McKenna, Felix Meyer

Judges appreciated the "unique water catchment & distribution integrated with structure."