Off grid living in the transylvanian forrest since 2021

We designed and built this treehouse in 2021 and it quickly became the embodiment of the contemporary forest home archetype. It is a warm dwelling woven with sunbeams and the crowns of beech trees.

The spaces of the house open outward, through a fabric of windows and wooden walls that simultaneously offer both light and warmth. The house includes a generous double-height living area, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a dedicated office space.

The roof configuration and the wraparound terrace emphasize the sensation of floating among the trees and bring the surrounding Făget forest even closer. The relationship with untamed nature could not be more direct.

Materials and Sustainability

To float among the trees, the house was built on a metal structure, over which the CLT (cross-laminated timber) frame and roof were constructed (link to CLT). The exterior reflects the forest setting through the ventilated façade, fully clad with thermally treated pine boards.

Technology

Treehouse is a passive house equipped with a centralized heat recovery ventilation system (link to the heat recovery ventilation page) from Zehnder (link to Zehnder company?) with 88% recovery efficiency.

In addition to its high energy efficiency, this system helps create a healthy and comfortable indoor environment by reducing excess humidity and preventing mold growth. By filtering incoming air and efficiently removing polluted air, it significantly improves indoor air quality, supporting the well-being and health of the residents.

Additional heat is provided by an air-to-water heat pump and distributed via underfloor heating in every room. The house is managed by an integrated Loxone smart automation system.

Energy Efficiency & Comfort Data

• Function: single-family “treehouse” style home, ground floor + upper floor, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 office

• Built area: 160 m²

• Usable total area: 136 m²

• Year of construction: 2021

• Heating energy consumption: 26 kWh/m²/year

• Total energy consumption: 51 kWh/m²/year