Architecture
Tree in Your Way? Don't Cut It Down Just Yet
Incorporating trees into decks, additions or even new builds can deliver some surprising – and stunning – results
Chopping down trees is often par for the course when you’re making room for a new house, renovation or decking but, as these innovative homes reveal, leaving trees standing and using them to your advantage can sometimes be the better option. Trees take centrestage in these heavenly homes, whether left in their natural state or highlighted as a shapely sculpture.
Pride of place
“I originally toyed with removing the tree,” says C.O.S Design landscape architect Steve Taylor. Given that Taylor had to find a way to squeeze in a lot in a small space – an entertaining area, pizza oven, fire pit and plenty of garden greenery – getting rid of the tree was tempting. The homeowners insisted it stay where it was, though, so Taylor opted to design the deck around it. Now, the mature ash tree is a star attraction set off by the yellow stringybark decking. “The challenge was to not make the space feel cluttered,” Taylor says. Keeping the majority of the deck clear and positioning activities around the outside solved the dilemma.
More: Light Up the Night: Houzz Au’s Lowdown on Fire Pits
“I originally toyed with removing the tree,” says C.O.S Design landscape architect Steve Taylor. Given that Taylor had to find a way to squeeze in a lot in a small space – an entertaining area, pizza oven, fire pit and plenty of garden greenery – getting rid of the tree was tempting. The homeowners insisted it stay where it was, though, so Taylor opted to design the deck around it. Now, the mature ash tree is a star attraction set off by the yellow stringybark decking. “The challenge was to not make the space feel cluttered,” Taylor says. Keeping the majority of the deck clear and positioning activities around the outside solved the dilemma.
More: Light Up the Night: Houzz Au’s Lowdown on Fire Pits
Through the roof
When the owner of this house sought out the expertise of architect Aaron Neubert to create more space, there was just one problem – the optimal location for the addition meant one of the owner’s beloved sycamore trees would have to come down. The homeowner insisted it become part of the design, however, despite the fact the tree listed at a 45-degree angle.
Step inside this home
When the owner of this house sought out the expertise of architect Aaron Neubert to create more space, there was just one problem – the optimal location for the addition meant one of the owner’s beloved sycamore trees would have to come down. The homeowner insisted it become part of the design, however, despite the fact the tree listed at a 45-degree angle.
Step inside this home
The huge sycamore tree penetrates into the kitchen and family room and up through the master bedroom and upper-level deck. “The exterior patios and landscape further reinforce the holistic site design strategies of the residence,” Neubert says.
Eco-friendly addition
This tree’s curves add organic style to a welcoming strawbale home. Arkin Tilt Architects left the trunk’s raw beauty well alone, and simply secured the column at the top and bottom after the home’s slab was poured. The trunk of the tree stops at the ceiling of the first floor, but extensive branching was left to fill the two-storey space above the dining table.
“We felt that it would demarcate the living space from the dining nicely,” says architect David Arkin. “Remarkably, just as the project was nearing the point where the tree would be required, a madrone tree fell at the property of some friends of our client. With some help from the builders, the fallen tree was minimally trimmed and gently transported to the site wrapped in blankets.”
This tree’s curves add organic style to a welcoming strawbale home. Arkin Tilt Architects left the trunk’s raw beauty well alone, and simply secured the column at the top and bottom after the home’s slab was poured. The trunk of the tree stops at the ceiling of the first floor, but extensive branching was left to fill the two-storey space above the dining table.
“We felt that it would demarcate the living space from the dining nicely,” says architect David Arkin. “Remarkably, just as the project was nearing the point where the tree would be required, a madrone tree fell at the property of some friends of our client. With some help from the builders, the fallen tree was minimally trimmed and gently transported to the site wrapped in blankets.”
Indoor oasis
Bringing your interiors to life is easy with a living plant residing alongside you. The Ficus Benjamina, or weeping fig, can be clipped into shape or left to spread out gracefully. Although these trees like light, they’re hardy enough to still thrive without all-day direct sunlight. Keep in mind that their root systems can be aggressive – house it within a pot positioned off the ground to prevent roots from doing damage. This covered courtyard in Santiago, Chile, is an all-weather haven.
Bringing your interiors to life is easy with a living plant residing alongside you. The Ficus Benjamina, or weeping fig, can be clipped into shape or left to spread out gracefully. Although these trees like light, they’re hardy enough to still thrive without all-day direct sunlight. Keep in mind that their root systems can be aggressive – house it within a pot positioned off the ground to prevent roots from doing damage. This covered courtyard in Santiago, Chile, is an all-weather haven.
Frames of nature
This house for a tree, designed by Robert McLaughlin, could be used for anything from a cubby house to a space for contemplation. In fact, it was purpose-built to direct attention to the wonders of nature in a public park through six carefully placed windows framed in green. Almost all the wood for the construction of ‘Landscape Apertura’ was taken from demolished houses in the nearby area.
This house for a tree, designed by Robert McLaughlin, could be used for anything from a cubby house to a space for contemplation. In fact, it was purpose-built to direct attention to the wonders of nature in a public park through six carefully placed windows framed in green. Almost all the wood for the construction of ‘Landscape Apertura’ was taken from demolished houses in the nearby area.
Even the window frames are constructed from recycled floorboards.
Explore more of this house for a tree
Explore more of this house for a tree
Point of focus
Nature often does the best job of creating a visual drawcard in a backyard space. Imagine this deck without that magnificent tree keeping you company – not nearly so inviting now, is it?
Nature often does the best job of creating a visual drawcard in a backyard space. Imagine this deck without that magnificent tree keeping you company – not nearly so inviting now, is it?
Natural play
With all the time kids spend indoors these days, bringing a little of the outside in is healthy. What better way to do it than with a playroom forest?
Find out more about this forest friendly home
With all the time kids spend indoors these days, bringing a little of the outside in is healthy. What better way to do it than with a playroom forest?
Find out more about this forest friendly home
Magnificent obsession
If bringing trees inside is going a step too far for your liking, you can do the next best thing by making the most of one living just outside your window. This towering specimen gives this room a sense of drama and connects it seamlessly to the natural environment with the help of a huge sliding glass door.
If bringing trees inside is going a step too far for your liking, you can do the next best thing by making the most of one living just outside your window. This towering specimen gives this room a sense of drama and connects it seamlessly to the natural environment with the help of a huge sliding glass door.
In honour of the past
If you can’t avoid having to chop down trees when you build or extend your house, why not let your house tell a story by bringing a slice of one inside? This tree stump makes the perfect coffee table.
SHARE YOUR STORY
How have you made the most of trees at your house? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
Indoor-Outdoor: 10 Living Rooms That Cross the Line
10 Ways to Connect Indoor and Outdoor Areas
Home in the Clouds: 11 Incredible Tree Houses for Adults
10 Tree-Filled Gardens to Celebrate Now
If you can’t avoid having to chop down trees when you build or extend your house, why not let your house tell a story by bringing a slice of one inside? This tree stump makes the perfect coffee table.
SHARE YOUR STORY
How have you made the most of trees at your house? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
Indoor-Outdoor: 10 Living Rooms That Cross the Line
10 Ways to Connect Indoor and Outdoor Areas
Home in the Clouds: 11 Incredible Tree Houses for Adults
10 Tree-Filled Gardens to Celebrate Now
Architect Travis Price rejected a “tear down the trees” approach when he designed this amazing forest home. Instead, he decided to incorporate trees into the design. “To see the trees internally and externally as ‘art trunks’ was the essence of living in a West Virginia forest,” Price says. “The clients love it, and with the pealed tree (birch plywood ceilings), the house and the trees reach perfect design harmony.”
But how to clean all that glass? Price says the glass tree enclosure maintenance is no different from any other large window. “It’s mostly a bi-yearly at most cleaning for all the windows as they accumulate pollens and airborne tree oils.” The house is raised 1-2 metres off the ground at various points, so it’s a matter of crawling under the house, sliding ladders up against the glass and getting to work.
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