Urbanization is an ongoing issue for economically disadvantaged communities, immigrant communities, and beyond. The political, moral, and financial implications of these issues extends to our natural surroundings as well, as we are still seeing the number of lost green spaces rising. We’ve highlighted several building designs that make room for nature, specifically trees, revealing the beauty and importance of environmental unity.
Kayashima Station
The tree that stands inside the Kayashima Station in the suburbs of Osaka is believed to be 700 years old.
A. Mascow’s Tree in the House
Welcome to the cylindrical glass treehouse of your dreams.
Alessandro Sartore’s Casa Vogue
This vine-covered tree, named Bethany by the home’s owner, is the focal point of every room.
The Yellow Treehouse Restaurant
From Contemporist:
The tree-house concept is reminiscent of childhood dreams and playtime, fairy stories of enchantment and imagination . It’s inspired through many forms found in nature -the chrysalis/cocoon protecting the emerging butterfly/moth, perhaps an onion/garlic clove form hung out to dry. It is also seen as a lantern, a beacon at night that simply glows yet during the day it might be a semi camouflaged growth, or a tree fort that provides an outlook and that offers refuge.The plan form also has loose similarities to a sea shell with the open ends spiralling to the centre.
Figueira Restaurante
From the restaurant website:
A centenial banyan(ficus benghalensis) that gives its name to our restaurant, an icon in the city and a proud for Rubaiyat Group. The tables scattered under the huge branches of this majestic tree, on the terrace or in the internal lounges you will have lunch or dinner in one of the most pleasant and lush enviroment in the city. The tables and the chairs are made of leather and Ipe wood from Rubaiyat Ranch in Mato Grosso do Sul, one of the properties of the Group.
Cong Sinh Architects’ Symbiosis
From inhabitat:
This charming building in Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, embraces nature to mitigate the negative effects of urbanization taking place in the area. Cong Sinh Architects bought the existing property and converted it into an office space that has trees growing through its walls to effortlessly blend nature and modern living.
Kook Osteria & Pizzeria
A restaurant in the town of Olgiata near Rome pays homage to Italian cuisine by showcasing an olive tree in a glass shell.
Onedesign’s House with Eaves and an Attic
A Tokyo home with trees growing through the roof.
The Mirrorcube
From Treehotel.se:
The Mirrorcube is an exciting hide-out among the trees, camouflaged by mirrored walls that reflect their surroundings. The dimensions are 4x4x4 metres. The base consists of an aluminum frame around the tree trunk and the walls are covered with reflective glass. The interior is made from plywood with a birch surface. The six windows provide a stunning panoramic view. A 12-meter-long bridge leads up to the tree room.
The Tea House
From Architizer:
The Tea House, located in the backyard of Archi-Union’s J-office, is constructed from the salvaged parts of the original warehouse’s collapsed roof. The site was extremely constricted with walls on three sides, and with only one side facing towards an open space that contains a pool. The space was further restricted by a mature tree. The design tries to embody harmony by integrating enclosure and openness, delightful space and logical construction and other complicated relations. This building reacts to the site’s environment; the plan layout is a logically obscure quadrilateral, thus maximizing the amount of space.