This Triangular Tree House Adds Whimsy to a Backyard in Australia
An angular addition breaks the rules of suburbia.
When Phorm Architecture + Design was asked to design a backyard extension for a young Australian couple, they were stepping into uncharted territory. Typical house lots in the suburb of Brisbane are long and thin, with traditional timber and tin houses that politely occupy the street edge, but leave largely empty spaces at the rear of the lot.
The backyards of these homes "tend to be overgrown, unruly spaces and are the domain of children and makeshift structures. The tree house is devised as an invitation to visit and engage with this distinct yet typically unchartered territory," says architect Paul Hotston.
Sliding walls open up the lower level and embrace the surrounding landscape.
Christopher Frederick Jones
Designed to be a "weekender in the backyard," the 452-square-foot tree house takes a grown-up approach to the classic children's cubby house.
The western wall of the treehouse is clad in metal to shade the structure from afternoon sun.
Christopher Frederick Jones
The triangular shape comes from the owners' desire to not completely fill the backyard area, while also accommodating the stately, deciduous tree at the center of the space.
The southern wall of the tree house is made out of a translucent screen. In the afternoons, the staircase catches brilliant shadows from the surrounding tree line.
Christopher Frederick Jones
A climbing wall on the ground floor mimics the playful atmosphere of a children's tree house.
Christopher Frederick Jones
The homeowners wanted a space to accommodate their interests: gardening, looking after their ducks, or relaxing in the shade provided by the canopy of trees on the property.
Christopher Frederick Jones
A small workspace overlooks the surrounding garden.
Christopher Frederick Jones
The interior of the tree house is made up of a set of informal spaces, including a loft on the top floor.
Christopher Frederick Jones
The walls of the space are clad in plywood.
Christopher Frederick Jones
A skylight brings air and light into the bathroom. Because it is outfitted with amenities like plumbing, the tree house can also act as a self-contained dwelling.
Christopher Frederick Jones
The veranda-like platform allows the homeowners to rest comfortably in their outdoor space during every season.
Christopher Frederick Jones
Building upwards—the treehouse is two stories tall—allowed the architect to keep the structure's footprint small, yet still hidden from view amongst the surrounding trees.
Christopher Frederick Jones
Project Credits:
Architect, Lighting Design, and Interior Design: Phorm Architecture + Design / @phorm_architecture
Builder/General Contractor: Marvel Constructions / Entony Lanca
Structural Engineer: Optimum Structures / Murty McKeague
Cabinetry Design/Installation: Sunshine State Cabinets / Brett Thomas
Steel Fabrication/Installation: Watkins Steel / Des Watkins
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