Driven by a desire to create a light-touch woodland retreat that was respectful of the surroundings whilst delivering spaces full of drama. Curved Tree House was inspiration was a particularly large Ash tree, next to which a square plan felt inappropriate. Instead, a slender arrangement that could curve and meander through the woods felt intuitive.
A sculptural staircase marks the entrance. It is deliberately heavy and sturdy in appearance, a visual anchor for an otherwise lightweight structure. To touch the ground lightly felt important, not only as a reverential counter to the woods but so that the impact of building could be minimised. To this end large expanses of glass are eschewed in favour of a dense framing system that minimises the risk to birds.
The plan is divided by a shaded outdoor entrance and breakout area that separates sleeping and day spaces. There is a bench and terrace here; I imagine it as a place to read, practice yoga, bird watch or just marvel at the trees. The linear arrangement of spaces offers something theatrical; a sequence of platforms from which to observe the unfolding day as it turns through the woods.
I enjoy the idea that a series of lodges built on the same principles could meander, weave and dance their way through the trees in a direct dialogue with the surroundings.
From the slender profile and lightweight appearance to the gentle curve around the Ash tree; every decision was underpinned by a reverence for the main protagonist; the forest.