Peter Pichler nestles tiny sustainable tree houses into the rugged landscape of west Virginia. Text description provided by the architects. Milan based studio Peter Pichler Architecture has developed a concept for sustainable tree houses in the forest of the Italian Dolomites. The tree houses are an addition to an existing hotel and should create a new experience to live in the woods with a maximum connection to nature.
The tree houses will form an addition to a destination hotel and are designed by the architect to afford guests with a new experience of living in the woods and maximum connection to nature. The geometry with its sharp steep roof is inspired by the surrounding fir and larch trees and is made of local wood. The size of the units ranges from 35-45 m2 on 2 levels. The lower level is a small reading / lounge area, and the upper level the sleeping area with a small bathroom. The two levels are connected with a small internal stair.
The project is conceived as a “slow down”- form of tourism where nature and the integration of architecture in it plays a primary role. “We believe that the future of tourism is based on the relationship of the human being with nature. Well integrated, sustainable architecture can amplify this relationship, nothing else is needed”.
The location of Dawson Lake is a stunning example of west Virginia’s ‘wild and wonderful’ landscape, featuring a spring-fed 40-acre lake, restored meadows, streams and wetlands, and over 100 acres of perpetual land easements that form a protected habitat for native species.
Dawson lake will become a ‘living laboratory’ for regenerative approaches to building design, agriculture, and land-use that reach beyond minimizing environmental impact to improving the ecosystem’s health and resilience. The project, which encompasses sustainable buildings, a conference and event center, a food and agriculture hub, health and wellness proposals, educational workshops and a vast visual and performing arts programming, aims to shape a more ecological future.
Project Info:
Project Name: ‘Tree Houses’
Location: Dawson Lake, The US
Architect: Peter Pichler Architecture (PPA)
Principals: Peter Pichler, Silvana Ordinas
Design Team: Daniele Colombati, Gianluigi D´Aloisio, Giovanni Paterlini, Marco Capriani
