Architecture

Dursley Treehouse goes high to get over planning hurdles

Dursley Treehouse goes high to get over planning hurdles
Dursley Treehouse is a stunning family home built above a series of screwpiles, specifically designed for minimal impact on the ground
Dursley Treehouse is a stunning family home built above a series of screwpiles, specifically designed for minimal impact on the ground
View 27 Images
The protected piece of land was previously denied building permits twice before
1/27
The protected piece of land was previously denied building permits twice before
Bridge leading to the Dursley Treehouse
2/27
Bridge leading to the Dursley Treehouse
Many of the home's features were built from reclaimed materials, including the balconies
3/27
Many of the home's features were built from reclaimed materials, including the balconies
Dursley Treehouse kitchen
4/27
Dursley Treehouse kitchen
The elevated home incorporates the trees in the home's design and outlook
5/27
The elevated home incorporates the trees in the home's design and outlook
Lightweight footbridge leads to the home
6/27
Lightweight footbridge leads to the home
The home is clad with untreated Larch
7/27
The home is clad with untreated Larch
Guests can enjoy the views across the surrounding forest landscape
8/27
Guests can enjoy the views across the surrounding forest landscape
Nice spot to relax and enjoy the views
9/27
Nice spot to relax and enjoy the views
In order to not disturb the site's 27 protected trees and their roots, an elevated building was conceived
10/27
In order to not disturb the site's 27 protected trees and their roots, an elevated building was conceived
The decision to support the structure using screwpiles, meant the ground would remain unmarred
11/27
The decision to support the structure using screwpiles, meant the ground would remain unmarred
Sitting some 12 m (39 ft) above the ground, the stunning treehouse-inspired home stretches over three levels
12/27
Sitting some 12 m (39 ft) above the ground, the stunning treehouse-inspired home stretches over three levels
The architects had to consider the trees and their dimensions to build the home around the trunks and branches, while also calculating for future growth and movement
13/27
The architects had to consider the trees and their dimensions to build the home around the trunks and branches, while also calculating for future growth and movement
Dursley Treehouse is an elevated 200 sq m (2,152 sq ft) Passivhaus home
14/27
Dursley Treehouse is an elevated 200 sq m (2,152 sq ft) Passivhaus home
Interior staircase of the Dursley Treehouse
15/27
Interior staircase of the Dursley Treehouse
The stunning treehouse-inspired home features a lightweight balcony that encapsulates the entire home
16/27
The stunning treehouse-inspired home features a lightweight balcony that encapsulates the entire home
During construction, builders used specialist forklifts and cranes withcaterpillar tracks, in order to not impact or disturb the roots
17/27
During construction, builders used specialist forklifts and cranes withcaterpillar tracks, in order to not impact or disturb the roots
The base of the home is clad with polished stainless steel to reflect the trees and surrounding landscape
18/27
The base of the home is clad with polished stainless steel to reflect the trees and surrounding landscape
Dursley Treehouse is a stunning family home built above a series of screwpiles, specifically designed for minimal impact on the ground
19/27
Dursley Treehouse is a stunning family home built above a series of screwpiles, specifically designed for minimal impact on the ground
The home is clad with untreated Larch
20/27
The home is clad with untreated Larch
Dursely Treehouse features a lightweight balcony that encircles the entire home
21/27
Dursely Treehouse features a lightweight balcony that encircles the entire home
Dursely Treehouse features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large open plan living and beautiful slate flooring
22/27
Dursely Treehouse features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large open plan living and beautiful slate flooring
Dursely Treehouse features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large open plan living and beautiful slate flooring
23/27
Dursely Treehouse features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, large open plan living and beautiful slate flooring
Millar Howard Workshop has come up with a creative way to build a beautiful family home on a protected piece of land
24/27
Millar Howard Workshop has come up with a creative way to build a beautiful family home on a protected piece of land
Sitting some 12 m (39 ft) above the ground, the stunning treehouse-inspired home stretches over three levels
25/27
Sitting some 12 m (39 ft) above the ground, the stunning treehouse-inspired home stretches over three levels
Dursley Treehouse is an elevated 200 sq m (2,152 sq ft) Passivhaus home
26/27
Dursley Treehouse is an elevated 200 sq m (2,152 sq ft) Passivhaus home
Cross section plans of the Dursley Treehouse by Millar Howard Workshop
27/27
Cross section plans of the Dursley Treehouse by Millar Howard Workshop 
View gallery - 27 images

Britisharchitectural studio Millar Howard Workshop has come up with acreative way to build a beautiful family home on a protected piece ofland, which was previously denied building permits twice before. Their solution was to build an elevated 200-sq m (2,152-sq ft) Passivhaustreehouse. Dubbed Dursley Treehouse, the result is a stunning familyhome built above a series of screwpiles specifically designed forminimal impact on the ground.

"Thebrief for the house was to gain planning permission for this unusualsite which had twice before been refused planning for conventionalhouses," says Millar Howard Workshop. "The client wanted adwelling that was very sensitive to both the immediate surroundingsof the site and the wider, local community. The client was alsoadamant that the impact of the house on its site should be very lowand be as environmentally sound as possible."

The protected piece of land was previously denied building permits twice before
The protected piece of land was previously denied building permits twice before

Inorder to not disturb the site's 27 protected trees and their roots,an elevated building was conceived, incorporating the trees in thehome's design and outlook. The architects had to consider the treesand their dimensions to build the home around the trunks andbranches, while also calculating for future growth and movement.

Furthermore, the decision to support the structure using screwpiles meant the ground would remain unmarred, which was a condition of theplanning approval. Duringconstruction, builders used specialist forklifts and cranes withcaterpillar tracks in order to not impact or disturb the roots.

"Whatwas unique about this site was looking at the spaces between thetrees to find the best location for the building so as not to disturbthe trees or disrupt any future growth," Ros James from MillarHoward Workshop tells New Atlas. "A series of stacked,cantilevered boxes was designed which created several separatespaces, linked by the continual heights of the trees which flow asyou progress up through the house and maximize the views of thebranches, leaves and inevitable wildlife."

Millar Howard Workshop has come up with a creative way to build a beautiful family home on a protected piece of land
Millar Howard Workshop has come up with a creative way to build a beautiful family home on a protected piece of land

With the main part of the home sittingsome 12 m (39 ft) above the ground, the stunningtreehouse-inspired home stretches over three levels and featuresfloor-to-ceiling glass windows, large open plan living, beautifulslate flooring and a lightweight balcony that encircles the entirehome.

Inorder to achieve Passivhaus certification, the Dursley Treehouse wasbuilt with an airtight double stud timber frame and 300 mm (13-in) insulation.The dwelling is supported by a steel frame with ceramic structuralthermal breaks in order to avoid any cold bridging issues. Thewindows and doors have been strategically positioned to reduce heatloss and gains.

The home is clad with untreated Larch and its base is clad with polished stainless steel to reflect the treesand surrounding landscape. In addition, many of the home's featureswere built from reclaimed materials, including the balconies. Thehome is fitted with rooftop solar panels and its overall annualenergy cost is anticipated at approx £360 (US$481).

The home is clad with untreated Larch
The home is clad with untreated Larch

DursleyTreehouse took 20 months to complete, costing £268,000(US$358,495) all up. It is the recentwinnerof The Telegraph & Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine BestPassivhaus Award 2017. Locatedin Gloucestershire, South West England, Dursley Treehouse is soon to beopened as a Bed and Breakfast, offering a uniquetreehouse escape.

Source: Millar Howard Workshop via Homebuilding & Renovating

View gallery - 27 images
No comments
0 comments
There are no comments. Be the first!