The Tree House 2024 Architecture competition challenged participants to go on a nostalgic trip down memory lane and picture a lighthearted home that prioritizes solitude and fosters inner tranquility. 

Participants had to select the location for the proposal, such as coastal areas, riverbanks, mountains, forests, urban environments, or even in backyards. Participants from over 37 countries came up with their creative and sustainable design solutions to cater to this spatially challenging Architectural problem.

Volume Zero Competition thanks all the competitors for participating in this competition and for contributing to this competition's research. 

The esteemed jury for judging this competition consisted of Sigurd Larsen (Sigurd Larsen Design & Architecture), Gonçalo Marrote (Madeiguincho), Olav Bruin (Atelier Nomadic), Ivan Esqueda Martínez (em-estudio), Sergio Araneda (SAA Arquitectura + Territorio), Harikrishnan Sasidharan (NO Architects Designers and Social Artists), Huynh Tran (H2 Architects), Chinmay Laiwala, Jigar Asarawala & Tarika Asarawala (Neogenesis+Studi0261), Yang Fei (Field Object Lab). 

The top three winners were awarded total prize money of $4,000 while ten entries received Honorable Mentions. Here are the winning entries. The full result for the competition the Tree House 2024 Architecture Competition can be found here. 

FIRST PLACE

THE T(h)REE Leaves
Karan Bhambhani, Ishika Soni & Aaryan Soni
India

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
Christopher Loofs and Jordan Loofs
United States

Located in Texas Bastrop State Park – the site of a 32,000-acre wildfire in 2011 – the Forest Spirit 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 long legs 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
Lucas Yi Shern Tan & Samarah Siddique
Australia

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.

The treehouse’s design mimics the way branches extend from a tree trunk. The zones are arranged close to the trunk for structural stability. 

Honourable Mentions:

Honourable Mention 1: Tree House
Dena Khaksar & Mohammad H Rajabi
Netherland

Honourable Mention 2 – BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Yuejun Han, Yifan Zhang & Xinghang Wang
United States

Honourable Mention 3 – EMBRACING MONSOON
Racin Chan, Sereynet Han & Saito Chan
Cambodia

Honourable Mention 4 – FITOLAR
Methissa Marquetti Lazzaris De Oliveira, Thais de Oliveira Barboza & Vitor Borges Candido
Brazil

Honourable Mention 5: Werifesteria
Anusha Tamaskar - Soumili Ray Choudhury - Tushar Deoda
India

Honourable Mention 6: Bean Bloom
Jeslynn Tan Zi Yi, Chean Wen Bin & Woo Kai Wen
Malaysia

Honourable Mention 7 – Vatavana
Sangat Design Studio, Pragyan Paramita & Snehadeep Das
India

Honourable Mention 8 – SYMBIOSIS
Liam Krusky
Canada

Honourable Mention 9 – KATHAROS
Saee Vinayakrao Kadu, Angeline Lalpekhlui & Waghmode Payal Nitin
India

Honourable Mention 10 – SYMBIOTIC HIDEAWAY
K Shashavindu
India