Structure as Atmosphere

Rather than hide its systems, the building celebrates its heavy timber structure, with branching glulam columns forming tree-like supports that rise through a soaring central atrium. This generous core not only anchors the circulation but also brings in natural light, fresh air, and acoustic insulation through planted terraces and triple-glazed facades. The structural solution—entirely built from cross-laminated timber (CLT)—is as much about sustainability as it is about spatial warmth.

Green Infrastructure as Public Invitation

A green roof, active terraces, and planted acoustic buffers face the adjacent highway, transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for urban restoration. These outdoor layers double as social infrastructure, making space for yoga, seating, play, and spontaneous interaction.

The programmatic heart, however, is a multi-level mini-golf course that loops through all floors—playful, democratic, and always in motion. It connects visitors across age and intent, tying together the building’s public and private uses with a light touch.

A Sensory Buffer in the Urban Fabric

Markova’s project does not shy away from the chaos of its site. Instead, it responds with a new architectural typology—a soft-edged, sensory-rich environment that welcomes the passerby and slows the pulse of the street. Its operable louvres breathe, its natural materials age gracefully, and its porous edge invites entry.

Here, the line between inside and outside is blurred. Between structure and nature, user and passerby, form and feeling—Urban Tree House offers architecture not as enclosure, but as interface.