Conservatory House

The Home Tree house is an architectural interpretation of useful tree features without trying to be a tree itself. Its cubic mass and simple lines facilitate construction and avoid literal references.

Coarse stone walls shelter the building from northern winds and western solar overheating. The house is set into a former quarry pit and its actual size is invisible from the adjacent road.

Hill slope continues inside the house and provides deep soil for the interior plants. It visually links all levels to the outside.

The house is purposefully fit into the existing quarry pit without disturbing the neighboring trees. In exchange the old wild pear gratefully flutters in the breeze and keeps singing its eternal songs

Layered transparencies and subtle light reflections instantly respond to weather, daytime and seasons.

The softness of interior curtains and mass of exposed concrete enhance each other.

Sunlight gradually moves around the house revealing its different surface qualities.

Shadows and light silently glide inside the winter garden. The view to the breathtaking forest changes every minute and amazes in all seasons.

Interior garden is ready to shelter its plants for the winter. In summer movable planters with sun-loving species are brought outside for catching maximum light.

Operable windows on all four sides ensure natural ventilation. In summer the house needs no air-conditioning thanks to the thermal mass of structure and interior soil.

Living spaces are clustered around the central core and located under the interior garden. They benefit form its insulation effect.

Dining and kitchen area is the heart of the house. Simple custom made furniture provides a muted background for the interesting discussions at dinners with friends and family.

Suspended bottom cabinets provide more space and light in the kitchen.

Master bedroom is intimate in size.

Tall entrance gate is made for taking potted trees and palms in and out easily. Small electrical vehicle brings larger plants outside for the summer. Gate also allows for occasional handicap car access.

Simple materials benefit from the constant play of light and shadow.

Concept sketch.

Axonometric section.

Axonometric layouts.

Plan layouts. The building is oriented exactly by the compass directions and interior shadows measure midday when they are parallel to the floor pattern.