Cool Spaces: People Tree House by Archiopteryx Architects

WORDS Cheri Morris PHOTOS Andre J Fanthome of Studio Noughts & Crosses via Dezeen

People Tree House by Archiopteryx Architects is an eco-smart home that recycles rain water through a drip irrigation system, generates its own energy and has a four-storey trunk-like centre complete with a spiral staircase, solar panels and a splash pool.

The home’s design speaks to its location in India’s Noida, Uttar Pradesh – a planned satellite city of Delhi that is organised as a series of rectilinear tree-lined transportation grids. Surrounded by neighbours on a smaller plot, the design rises to accommodate not only for the amplitude of space required by the medical practitioners who live and work in it, but also to maximise its ability to generate energy, catch rainwater and irrigate planted areas in tradition with ancient water-harvesting techniques.

A curved ramp on the roof, along with balconies containing pools and planters, collects rainwater in a water tank at an upper level. The rainwater runs to an underground manhole through a bright red pipe that dissects the house and, at points, functions as a staircase handrail.

Despite occupying the basement and ground floors, the clinic, like the rest of the home, is ideally flooded with natural light thanks to careful design that controls sunlight exposure throughout the year. Above that, there is a kitchen, living space and bedroom on the first level and two en-suite bathrooms on the next level. On the roof, five solar panels extend the spiral motif that stretches from staircase to skyline. The third level houses another two bedrooms and the splash pool, while a study takes up the mezzanine level above.

While the main structural walls were made from exposed stone, the curved walls of the stairwell feature a stained plaster coated with coconut oil. The flooring and exterior don Indian white marble and yellow sandstone to continue the dialogue with the surrounding earthen palette.

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