This trapezium-shaped box sitting on four slanting legs is a garden playhouse by Slovenian firm Ravnikar Potokar.
The wooden structure is designed to be self-supporting so that it can be erected among trees without leaning on them for support.
There is a full-height plexiglass window at one end of the tree house and tiny apertures with shutters on the sides.
Two retractable benches fold out of the walls, with a fixed bench at the back of the small inside space.
Photographs are by Andraž Kavčič, Robert Potokar, Robert Marčun.
Here's some more information from the architects:
Tree House, Slovenia
This freestanding house-by-a-tree is a multipurpose wooden play structure, standing on its own construction. It can be erected close to trees that are unable to support additional weight.
This tree house, conceived with contemporary design principles, is not modelled on any of the classic tree house forms that take their inspiration from either real houses or garden sheds.
Instead, children are offered a different understanding of shapes, new spatial experiences and new forms of play.
The house is made of spruce plywood, protected on the exterior by a colourless nano-varnish. The roof is covered in a roofing cardboard that shields against most kinds of unfavourable weather conditions.
Furnishings are minimal, constructed from dowel pins that we made with kids one Sunday afternoon.
Designer: Robert Potokar
Co-designer: Janez Brežnik
Location: Trnovo, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Construction: Tesarstvo Kregar
Click for larger image
Project: February 2008
Completion: first - June 2008, second -July 2009, third - October 2010
Building area: 3.5 m²
See also:
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| Outlandia by Malcolm Fraser Architects |
Treehouse by Nicko Björn Elliott |
Takasugi-an by Terunobu Fujimori |
Here in Australia we have had a number of childrens' tree houses pulled down by city councils because they do not have, or conform to, building planning regulations!! Childhood fantasy and creativity stifled by bureaucratic 'nanny-state' mentality. This is a well designed albeit expensive looking cubbyhouse – but lacks the input of the children themselves – an essential ingredient of the true tree house.
Terry, It's hardly a problem that plagues society. I'm sure such treehouses are pulled down for legitimate purpose, i.e. safety. In many cases, and from my own experiences at local government level, it's self-righteous neighbour's who're hell-bent on preventing anything that may, god-forbid, 'pollute' their visual.
You're right though, very-well designed but seems to lack the kind of creativity that truly makes a child's cubbyhouse.
Like it a lot, it's very simple. It's just kind of weird that the boy is ready to jump over the window in the section drawing.
it's nice and i love it, but i always thought that the funniest part of a tree house, was build it yourself!
@Terry
Yes, children's tree houses are either well enough designed/constructed to fall foul of planning regs or not well enough built to fail on health and safety grounds… either way, sadly, the kids lose.
And whilst I like the look it lacks the touches that children would add to make it playful.
echt iets voor architect Chris Van Laethem
I like the finished house, but as the comments above, I think one should leave the building process to the children. How about building the structure and laeving the kids to build a hose within that structure?
Nowadays our world seems to be overdesigned for a lively childhood. no space for creativity adventure and risks.
Aesthetically pleasing, but unimaginative and over-built. Perhaps an observation tower for adults, but not a "tree house" for children to play.
MINIMAL, EXPRESSIVE AND FUNTIONAL WHAT A FANTASTIC DESIGN!
shouldn't a tree house by definition be mounted on a tree?
the foundations are depressing. they eliminate the only chance for fun : the idea that the tower can be temporary, or portable.