The Pandemic-Era Appeal of Getting Lost in a Labyrinth
Interest is growing in the intriguing structures designed for mindfulness, from backyard installations to finger tracing.
A simple tape labyrinth on craftsman Lars Howlett’s back patio in Oakland, California.
Photo Courtesy of Lars Howlett
Lars Howlett is one of the country’s foremost labyrinth makers. For churches, hospitals, schools, estates, county fairs, and thousands of YouTube viewers, he’s designed, built, and taught the creation of these spiral-like walking paths. His services range from a $600 labyrinth consultation to a full-blown $25,000 installation.
Lately, his Bay Area-based business is booming. While institutional projects — normally Howlett’s bread and butter — have fallen to the wayside with many campuses and religious sites closed, homeowners hoping to build private backyard labyrinths have become the bulk of his client base. Since March, Howlett has worked on several residential projects in California, including one in a palatial Bel Air estate with a shape mimicking the famous labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France. Demand has also surged for his summer labyrinth-making workshops, which he’d normally hold in person; this year they have shifted online and have seen enrollment triple.