Who here hasn’t dreamed of living in a treehouse as a kid? If your dream never came true, you can take a cue from this Swiss artist and climate activist who built a stunning treehouse in Valle Onsernone, Switzerland, paying homage to Henry David Thoreau’s literary work, Walden. Dubbed Casetta Tessino, the treehouse beautifully nestles in the Swiss wilderness, perched among the trees, elevated from the ground, overlooking the wild.
Designed by Swiss architect Olin Petzold as a woodland retreat for the client, his primary goal was to keep things minimal and design something that responds and harmonizes with nature, instead of threatening it. When Petzold’s client sought an additional living space on their property, the local building regulations came in the way, which meant he couldn’t follow the traditional building norms, and laying the foundation was not an option. When everything else failed, Petzold came up with a plan to design a triangular timber structure that is raised from the ground, supported by trees.
This wood and polycarbonate treehouse is located just 150 meters away from the client’s existing house. The treehouse aims to offer simple living conditions, which are chronicled in Henry David Thoreau’s book, Walden. The book encourages people to live simply and in peace with their surroundings. The Casetta Tessino does exactly that, as there isn’t much to do but rest and admire the majestic landscape.
In this treehouse, there’s only one triangular room, which serves as a sleeping, reading, and writing space. Accessed via a ladder, the interior has a hidden bed revealed after removing four wooden planks, a long wooden bench, and removable planks. Petzold designed the treehouse so that it could be made from light, sustainable materials, for the client to self-build it from start to finish.
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The facade of the retreat is calm and blends in with nature quite seamlessly. There are windows to keep it ventilated during summer, and translucent polycarbonate walls let in enough sunlight to keep it warm during winter. Not to mention, the natural wood finishing brings the entire structure to life.
Though the Casetta Tessino treehouse is built for the client, it also remains open to other creatives, artists, and those who are looking to find refuge among the trees. On occupational and experimental grounds, visitors come and experience how design and architecture shape habits, daily creative rhythm, and perspective, especially when they are this close to nature. Thoreau would certainly agree with the instincts; the forest already does.
Via: dezeen
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