This Estonian treehouse was designed as a forest lookout
Designed by local architecture studio Arsenit, this Estonian treehouse, titled Piil, is a timber countryside bolthole conceived as a lookout towards the wilderness
An Estonian treehouse peeks through the trees in its idyllic forested location, near the country's largest waterfall and natural wilderness. Designed by emerging local architecture studio Arsenit, headed by founder Arseni Timofejev, the project is a nature bolthole created as a sort of viewing platform – a lookout from which the owners can admire the green views, relax and recharge.
An Estonian treehouse designed as a viewing platform
The structure was named Piil (for the Estonian word ‘piiluma’ for ‘peeking/looking’). It rises some 9m tall, featuring a small base and larger, periscope-like top, in order to minimise its impact on the natural site. For the same reason, the building is made of wood and was largely prefabricated and assembled swiftly on site to avoid disturbing the surrounding wildlife, in a sustainable architecture approach.
The interior is made of white-washed oak and was 'conceived as a large piece of joinery', the architects explain. And while the interior is a mere 19 sq m, a play of levels and views inside ensures it feels a lot larger than its actual size.
The structure punches above its weight when it comes to views too. A large picture window that turns into a skylight at the very top becomes a point to gravitate towards – for its leafy vistas, brightness, but also its bespoke hammock, which makes it the perfect spot to take a moment and breathe, or read a book.
'The client’s brief was for raised ‘glamping’ accommodation, which could be used as a retreat or a micro-hotel. Inspired by the observation towers placed in scenic locations throughout Estonia, Piil imagines what it would be like to stay in one overnight. In the first, prototype version of Piil, a single-storey ‘leg’ elevates the accommodation 4.25m above ground – ‘in future iterations, taller ‘legs’ could raise the accommodation units further into, or even above the tree branches!' Arseni says.
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published