A creative trio of treehouse designs emerge as winners of the Tree House 2024 competition

The winners of this year’s Tree House 2024 competition have been named by its organizers at Volume Zero. 

Participants in this competition were given a brief that asked them to imagine a coastal, riverbank, forest, backyard, urban, or even mountainous site and create designs tailored to offer unique solutions to spatial challenges. 

Of the 37 countries represented by the 11-person jury panel, which included Sigurd Larsen and a slate of international architects, a group of three received cash prizes. Another ten received Honorable Mention designations. Designs from India were particularly well-represented. Many offer scrupulous and creative approaches to the inherently playful typology defined by their use of biomimetic, multi-functional, and even mythological design considerations or inspiration.

First Place: THET(h)REE Leaves by Karan Bhambhani, Ishika Soni & Aaryan Soni (India)

Description: "The T(h)ree House designed for a couple who is passionate about Wild Life Photography, offers an immersive experience of living within a tree, enveloped by leaves that form a natural shelter.Strategically placed opening provides stunning framed views of the Deodar Forest. The design allows the client to observe and photograph all sorts of flora and fauna, taking advantage of the unobtrusive vantage points provided by the structure.

The journey to the house emphasizes the movement through empty spaces between branches, enhancing the connection with the landscape. Designed to resemble three large leaves, the use of locally sourced wood and wooden shingles allow the tree house to seamlessly blends into its surroundings. A Deodar tree being of great strength and girth, becomes the spines that hold together the entire structure of the house. Apart from deep wooden members around the circumference of the tree, diagonal members provide additional support and stability to the house."

Second Place: FOREST SPIRIT by Christopher and Jordan Loofs (United States)

Description: "Located in Texas Bastrop State Park–the site of a 32,000-acre wildfire in 2011–the ForestSpirit stands near the Lost Pines hiking trail on the edge of the main burn path, overseeing the regrowth of the pine forest. Embodying aspects of dragons, insects, beasts, and reptiles, it is a chimera, a creature suspended between myth and reality. The Spirit prowls cautiously: its longlegs careful not to damage the trees it protects; tail swishing in the wind, curling around a sturdy pine to form a stair and bridge entry; and smoke billowing from its nostrils, sourced from an internal fireplace. The 300-square-foot treehouse serves a dual purpose: functioning as a lookout station to monitor for future fires and provide space for a new artist residency program. The main floor consists of a kitchen, dining room/ work table, bathroom, and bedroom with ample storage interspersed throughout, while the loft contains the living/lounge space with a central fireplace."

Third Place: Sugi–house by Lucas Yi Shern Tan & Samarah Siddique (Australia)

Description: "Sugi-house is a haven for a creative couple, nestled in the mountainous peaks of Yakushima island along a hiking trail. The treehouse is a serene workshop for the couple as they enjoy living close to nature and crafting with materials sourced from the forest. It is constructed using locally sourced, sustainable materials to ensure minimal environmental impact. Effective insulation provides comfort for low temperatures during periods of snowfall, while three-way cross-ventilation cools the building through the warm, tropical seasons."

Honorable Mention 1: Tree House by Dena Khaksar & Mohammad H Rajabi (Netherlands)

Honorable Mention 2: BEHIND THE CURTAIN Yuejun Han, Yifan Zhang &X inghang Wang (United States)

Honorable Mention 3: EMBRACING MONSOON by Racin Chan, Sereynet Han & Saito Chan (Cambodia)

Honorable Mention 4: FITOLAR by Methissa Marquetti Lazzaris De Oliveira,Thais de Oliveira Barboza & Vitor Borges Candido (Brazil)

Honorable Mention 5: Werifesteria by Anusha Tamaskar, Soumili Ray Choudhury, and Tushar Deoda (India)

Honorable Mention 6: Bean Bloom by Jeslynn Tan Zi Yi, Chean Wen Bin & Woo Kai Wen (Malaysia)

Honorable Mention 7: Vatavana by Sangat Design Studio, Pragyan Paramita & Snehadeep Das (India)

Honorable Mention 8: SYMBIOSIS by Liam Krusky (Canada)

Honorable Mention 9: KATHAROS by Saee Vinayakrao Kadu, Angeline Lalpekhlui & Waghmode Payal Nitin (India)

Honorable Mention 10: SYMBIOTIC HIDEAWAY by K Shashavindu (India)