The tree house

The building lot was imagined as being traversed by various paths that intersect at different points. These intersections identify fields around them, which determine the spatial articulation of the proposed intervention.

So as required by the competition, a mix of functions were planned, leaving the zero level occupied only by the accesses to the upper floors.

The zero level is entirely walkable divided between uncovered and covered public areas, private covered and garden spaces, and area for urban agriculture. There is continuity at zero level, the only division is between public and private spaces.

On the ground floor the support structures of the building resemble petrified trees that alternate with vegetation.

Towards the river the lot degrades in terraces that open up to the sight of the aquatic environment.

Fearing present climate change The whole thing is designed to reduce as much as possible overheating and urban heat island effect, in fact the uncovered surfaces except for a very small portion are covered with vegetal soil, the surface covered by the building is largely shaded. For the same reason, the opaque walls are white so as not to accumulate heat and the roofs of the green roof type.

Part of the roofs are used as roof gardens, vegetable cultivation, terraces.

The presence of the green roof allows the collection of rainwater that is stored for various uses a part is stored inside a tank and used for irrigation of vegetable gardens and gardens.

There are also photovoltaic panels on the roof for electricity generation.

From the zenith view, the buildings disappear below the vegetation on the ground floor and roofs.

The dwellings are accessed through vertical connections and horizontal pathways consisting of glazed corridors facing north to reduce heating and overlooking interior spaces.  Individual dwellings with opaque walls on three sides to reduce both their summer heating and winter cooling, have a fourth fully glazed wall facing south or east, as appropriate, that overlooks large terraces covered by the upper rooms. Each unit and composed of a living room with kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, the fixtures are sliding and fully openable, so that when the season allows it create an extension of the house to the outdoor terraces overlooking the surrounding environment. Most of the facilities are concentrated in the inner strip of the house.

Centrally located to the dwellings is a block serving them with a reception-recreation room and a clubhouse, topped by two roof gardens serving the dwellings.

In addition to residential, other functions are planned.

Commercial spaces accessible directly from the public space below which there are covered spaces that can also be used for small markets mainly in the sale of products from urban agriculture carried out in the building and in the surrounding area. In fact, in addition to an area of the ground designated for urban agriculture, there are rooftop gardens and especially a vertical farm with hydroponic and aeroponic crops is planned. 

The fact of maintaining a part of the soil for the production of food and the insertion of a vertical farm were considered fundamental to maintain a certain degree of sustainability.

A restaurant with an outdoor terrace soni located to crown the commercial area.

An additional block with independent access is intended for laboratories and work spaces.

Finally there is a last block for study, with classrooms, laboratories and at the top a multimedia room.

All the various blocks have an autonomous entrance with direct access from the public space, in order to avoid the overlaps of the paths is to encourage accessibility.

The facades of the various blocks alternate totally opaque surfaces with other completely windows, the latter are supported by a corten steel structure inside which the plant networks also pass. The structure is inspired by tree trunks and when it is necessary it reaches the ground dividing the public spaces from private ones. The elements of the structure support both the dark -tone dark systems and the red pits that frame the windows that can be opened by the glass surface.

No underground floors were planned as the competition did not mention them, but if parking spaces were needed for housing they could be carved out under a portion of the building.