Oakbrook, Illinois
The house is designed for a family of four to
use as a place of seclusion and interaction with nature. Set in
a mature forest of oak, hickory, ash and maple trees, the tree house
is designed to provide views not only of the surrounding vegetation,
but also the ground and sky above.
It was decided that the structure should exist in simpatico
with the host tree, rather than bearing upon it. Therefore the house
is supported by a series of informally arranged steel columns, and
the tree provides horizontal stability to the overall building.
The tree house will then sway with the host tree in high winds,
reinforcing the connection between man and nature.
