The TreeHouse is a response to the given site, climate and client through an exploration of form, structure and circulation. A Lefebvrian manifestation, the floor plates of the house algorithmically diverge and multiply as they ascend from the rocky forest floor up into the canopy, reflecting the branching of the very trees the house protects. Private spaces of the family and guests are divided by shared spaces, including the kitchen, which acts as the physical, social, and symbolic core of the home.
Ground Level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
South Elevation
East Section
Exterior render
Process: Form
Grasshopper is used to model the possible floor plates that can exist among the trees while respecting them
The floor plates are derived from the endless options provided parametrically by the script
Study Model: Form
Process: Structure
Sketches: Inspired by Cecil Balmond exploring ways the cantilevered form can be supported
Structural design: two load bearing walls integrated into the large rock support the building in compression while a cable anchored into the rock ties it back in tension. The first slab is precast, pre-stressed concrete and the upper levels are a steel Vierendeel truss system.
Study Model: Structure
Study Model: Structure balanced around a central circulation core
