Casa Girafa

PhotoAndreas Wenning
LocationCuritiba, Brasil

Brazil makes one think of samba, and the tropical rainforest with mighty, towering trees. Everybody is inspired by this idea, particularly the treehouse builder. Naturally, the culture and landscapes of this enormous country are hugely varied. Densely populated metropolises, alongside gigantic areas of primeval forest, swamp, steppes and, of course, the enchanting beaches, all combine to make it unique and define its diversity. Curitiba, the clients’ home has around 1.8 million inhabitants, and is located in a temperate zone in the south of the country. The four-member family had recently had a modern house built by a well known Brazilian architect and had only just moved in. The lady of the house has long been fascinated by treehouses and, by chance, had come across a baumraum project in a German interiors magazine. Once the initial contact had been made, it wasn’t long before planning could start on an extravagant addition to their new residence. The property is in one of the closed residential developments with high walls and secure driveway which are so typical of this country. On the south-facing part of the property, there is a large terrace, with a pool and a couple of palms. On the northern side, on a green area enclosed by a high hedge, there are two sturdy north American maple trees. The maple standing in the centre of the lawn was to be the basis for the treehouse. After various model sketches were made, a concept was developed for a terrace suspended in the tree and a freestanding treehouse cabin. The load of the treehouse is transferred to a concrete foundation by nine slender, asymmetrically arranged stainless steel pillars which put one in mind of a long-legged animal, such as a giraffe.

The terrace’s weight is carefully distributed across the maple by means of thin steel cables and textile straps. A small catwalk with a staircase connects the two elements and also compensates for the difference in altitude. The external surfaces are distinguished by the use of ipé, a very hard Brazilian tropical wood, and of brushed stainless steel on the railings and the various mountings. Reddish jatobá wood surfaces and white imitation leather upholstery and drawer fronts define the look of the interior, and are reminiscent of the furnishings in a yacht. The client specially requested that a high-quality hi-fi system and a large flatscreen TV be integrated into the treehouse. Thus this space in the tree has been turned into a mini urban zone with the latest technology.

Trees a nordamerican maple-tree
Height terrace: 3,6 m; cabin: 4,6 m
Bearing structure The terrace is suspended from the maple tree by means of stainless steel cables and textile straps; the treehouse’s load rests on nine asymmetrically arranged and leaning stainless steel supports.
Interior area 9,6 qm
Terrace area 11,4 qm
Façade construction from inside to outside: jatobá veneer on 10 mm plywood; 19 mm OSB; 60 mm mineral insulation; membrane; 20 mm air space; 20 mm ipé boarding, horizontal

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