• Photo gallery
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Around the Oak

An ordinary house, the distance from theground is perceived to be less challenging and suspenseful. One feels confined to the earth and perhaps safer. In a tall treehouse like this, everything is different. Here, one feels transported from the ground, caught somewhere between heaven and earth – a high altitude experience that triggers special feelings. The ascent to the top increases the anticipation and opens the door to linger in the complex and living organism tree. Ths treehouse in Halle/Westfalen is situated at a considerable height of more than eleven metres above the ground. Even the accession is by no means routine. First, one enters an old barn and then steps into the open air via a steep set of stairs and a trapdoor in the roof. From there, one continues across a small walkway to the actual entrance. A spiral staircase made of  stainless steel coils around the oak. When negotiating the staircase, the ascent to the treehouse becomes a memorable experience. One  emains within touching distance to the oak, encircling its trunk below and above forked branches, twisting upwards to the access hatch of the treehouse terrace, so to speak.

This terrace, which was made of tatajuba timber boards, offers space for a table and a few chairs. Here, one has a dreamlike view of the surrounding fields and a few residential buildings in the vicinity. The exterior of the circular treehouse cabin is clad in zinc sheet metal roofing and narrow larch slats at the face ends. In the cabin, the visitor’s glance falls first on the arched roof window above the lie down area. Large circular glass surfaces on the gable sides and two long narrow windows on the long sides illuminate the  interior and offer multiple views of the crown of the oak. The interior design, as well as the walls and floor, are made of white varnished ash and thus emphasise the sophisticated and understated character of the design. However, in order to enjoy the sensuous experience and omfort of this treehouse, a few regulatory obstacles had to first be circumnavigated. In many cases, obtaining a building permit for a tree house is not a major hurdle. However, in the implementation of this project the path towards acquiring a legal basis for the developers and for us proved to be very rocky. The fact that parts of the treehouse were to be built above a small public road presented the local authorities with considerable challenges. Following extensive correspondence and visits by the urban administration, a proper solution for both parties was finally agreed upon. The compromise stipulated that, contrary to the original plan, the terrace of the treehouse would be scaled down so that public land would not be built upon. A few particular safety requirements by the building authorities were also to be met.

The ambitious plans could only be examined in more detail once the design had finally been given the green light. The towering height, as well as the accession from the barn and spiral staircase, were a challenge for the planners and companies commissioned. After the oak had been measured by a 3D scanner with regard to the key points, the geometry of the spiral staircase could be designed and perfectly implemented by the metal processing plant of Andreas Meschter. The terrace and cabin were assembled using tree climbers, a lifting platform and mobile crane, which was deployed for a short period of time. The idea of suspendingthe entire structure from the oak by means of steel cables, textile belts and two slanting supports was also an ambitious task which eventually proved successful. The fact that this treehouse became reality after more than two years is due to the tenacity and special passion of our clients Gerlinde and Horst. We are delighted with the treehouse and hope that our clients have many pleasant hours in their never-never land at a height of eleven metres.


Trees: one oak
Height: upper terrace and cabin: 11.20 m
Statics: the weight of the spiral staircase, terrace and treehouse cabin is
distributed across the oak by means of steel cables and textile
belts. Two slanting stainless steel supports transmit the external
loads of the cabin to the trunk of the oak at a low height
Terrace: 9 sqm
TERRACE CONSTRUCTION: larch beams (laminated beams)
tatajuba timber boards (FSC certified)
I nterior area - 8.6 sqm
CABIN CONSTRUCTION: from inside to outside: 20 mm ash boarding, white varnished;
round ribs of steel flanked with laminated wooden arches;
60 mm insulation; 20 mm spruce boarding; sand layer; 20 mm curved larch slats
Roofing: zinc sheeting