upcycled twin treehouse structures amid a lakeside forest

 

Set inside an enclave of century-old maple and oak trees, Temescal Creative’s Upcycled Twin Treehouses offer a distinct blend of shelter and imaginative play spaces. The duo of structures connected at the centre by a set of swings complement both their urban and natural landscapes, echoing the architecture of the adjacent family home and rising fourteen feet high to reflect the towering height and scale of the engulfing trees.

 

Their forms are crafted from sustainable sourcing and upcycled construction methods, utilizing non-toxic salvage materials such as wood and metal for their form. Designed with a deliberate focus on longevity and adaptability, as the children grow, the foundations of the Upcycled Twin Treehouses can be repurposed for various uses, such for an accessory dwelling unit.

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all images by Marta Perez

 

 

temescal creative merges architecture and nature

 

Martine Ilana, Principal Designer of Temescal Creative sought to reimagine the concept of a typical treehouse for her twins to create a secure outdoor play space where each child has their own personal space while fostering togetherness. Additionally, the creative agency’s vision revolved around preserving the forest’s integrity and employing eco-conscious construction practices. Temescal Creative utilized reclaimed and sustainable materials sourced from a Detroit salvage yard, incorporating non-toxic and structurally sound elements such as wood, metal roofing, and water-based low VOC paints. A slatted exterior design was devised to create a rain screen while harmonizing with the facade of the main residence, creating a cohesive architectural ensemble.

 

The slide posed the largest challenge to source, as recycled plastic slides are not made available to residential projects by US-based manufacturers. Ultimately, a HDPE high density polyurethane plastic slide was chosen, which would allow for its material to be recycled at the end of its life cycle.

temescal sustainable agency upcycles twin treehouses off a lakeside forest 1
Temescal Creative’s Upcycled Twin Treehouses offer a distinct blend of shelter and imaginative play spaces

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set inside an enclave of century-old maple and oak trees

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designed for collaborative and individual play for the designer’s twins

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the structures echo the architecture of the adjacent family home and the height and scale of the engulfing trees

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a slatted exterior design creates a rain screen while harmonizing with the facade of the main residence

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reclaimed and sustainable materials sourced from a Detroit salvage yard shape the treehouse

 

 

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project info:

 

name: Upcycled Twin Treehouses
architecture: Temescal Creative Agency | Martine Ilana

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: ravail khan | designboom