The kid in all of us has always dreamed of living in a tree house. Now that dream can come true, even in an urban environment.
Designed originally as urban infill housing, the urban treehouse can also be set on an open lot in multiples to create a larger complex of homes with minimal modifications. Controlled grade level views from the first floor are intended to give the effect of the home emerging from the soil. The high windows direct your view upward, but still flood the space with natural light.
The fireplace and kitchen cabinets have a twisting helix design, emulating the roots of a large tree. The second floor allows the structure to be exposed like supporting branches. Non-traditional window placements on this level give the impression of light filtering though a tree. The floors give way to a large wrap-around balcony and rooftop garden with grand views. A green roof and central shaft combine with specific window combinations to provide passive cooling.
The structure of this design is celebrated rather than hidden. Like the branches of a tree, the support structure on the second floor (the engineered timber supports) is exposed and part of the space.
NOTES FROM THE DESIGNER: As a child, I spent considerable time climbing trees. I loved to climb high into the canopy and view the world from a different perspective. It was not just the view from the top that excited me, but the glimpses of what was to come as the leaves and branches gave way to views beyond my backyard.
I can still feel the solidness of the trunk underfoot and the graceful sway of the upper branches as I clung tight to them in the breeze. I built many “tree houses” as a child, but that was only a means to stay in the tree longer. It was the tree that I loved and that is the essence I wanted to capture in this design.
The central fireplace on the first floor provides warmth and a special design element when combined with the climbing helix design of the kitchen cabinetry. High windows on the first floor provide light, but restrict views from the street level. As one climbs to the upper levels, the windows open up first with glimpses, but eventually yield unrestricted views like those of a tree.
Integrated balconies, passageways and decks blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, making the compact design feel much larger than the 2,205 square feet of conditioned space it holds.
A view a PDF containing all features of this plan, click here.
SPECIFICATIONS:
SQ FOOTAGE: 2772 sq. ft. plus auxiliary spaces
MAX FOOTPRINT: 30’-0” x 35’-0”
# BEDROOMS: 3
# BATHROOMS: 3
SPECIAL FEATURES: “Green” design, open stair tower, helix configuration cabinetry, modern “themed” design
OPTIONS: Stand alone design or multiple unit configurations
MISC: Themed design is that of a tree; level 1 is the trunk, 2 is the branches, 3 is the canopy and the roof is the treetop
Like it? Don’t like it? Think something should be changed or added?
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Tags: apartment, excel homes, modular, residential, S Single-family residential, treehouse, urban
[...] a good example of modular urban infill construction at work (at least in design), check out our Excel Drawing Board blog entry on the [...]
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Thinks about worming
I like the design and absolutely believe in urban infill vis a vis modular solutions.
The one question I have is: should design of new infill project conform with existing arch style of the buildings next to project as well as overall “style” of the neighborhood?
This design blends somewhat and sticks out somewhat.
Great question Christopher. Generally there are two schools of thought when it comes to infill projects. The first is to design a façade that blends with those in the general area. When using this approach many try to make the project look as though it is as old as the buildings around it and as if it has always been there. This can be more challenging than one might think to match colors and materials however. The second is to develop a façade that stands out as being something different and from a separate time period. With this second approach I believe it is still a good idea to draw from the existing structures for colors, lines and rhythmus however. When it comes to historic infill the interior is the easy part, the exterior and how it relates to the structures around it is the more difficult part most often. With the other designs in this series I tried to demonstrate the first concept. Thanks for the question.