tree in the house in almaty, kazakhstan by almasov aibek

a tree in the house in almaty, kazakhstan by almasov aibek
all images courtesy of almasov aibek
 

camouflaged amongst the dense firs in the mountainous almaty city in kazakhstan, young kazak architect almasov aibek of a.masow design studio proposes a woodland sanctuary. ‘tree in the house’ is a transparent cylindrical volume with a void at its core, revealing a single, towering tree that rises through the lucent space. the arboreal chamber fuses with its surrounding environment, appropriating the tree as interior ornamentation. the translucent rotunda substitutes windows for walls, limiting privacy but allowing for a continuous panorama and unbounded sunlight. at the rim of the glass frame, a minimal, white staircase coils from the ground floor to the roof, granting a 360° perspective while ascending the column. four stacked rings compass the tree, each serving as a tier of the home. light-colored wood flooring is chosen for the landings, a clear integration of natural materials, adding to its fugue with the landscape. the home has been designed for a couple, who will use their secluded botanical retreat as a place for reflection and contemplation. its construction is scheduled for a 2014 completion.

at the upper-most level, inhabitants overlook the tops of the trees

the fir tree growing within the a void in the center of the structure

rings of wooden flooring compass the tree, each acting as a level of the house

an interior view reveals the trunk rising through the space

floor plan – level 0