On a narrow 6-meter-wide plot in Kifisia, aTREEum House is the first timber structure in the area, using CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) and glulam to reduce its carbon footprint and support circular construction. It operates as a zero-energy home, combining passive and active systems. A BIPV facade generates solar energy, while a rooftop greenhouse stores heat. Natural ventilation is enhanced through roof gardens, atriums, and vertical greenery. Perforated scrap steel provides shading, and rainwater harvesting supports irrigation. This design reduces embodied and operational energy, offering a sustainable model for dense urban environments.
At its core, aTREEum House is shaped around an existing tree that preexisted on the narrow urban plot. Instead of removing it, the design embraces and preserves it through a central atrium, allowing it to become a living part of the architecture. The tree is not only a symbol of continuity but also an active element that enhances thermal comfort, natural ventilation, and emotional connection to nature.
The house embodies the essence of a modern treehouse one that respects and coexists with its environment. More than a residence, it becomes a catalyst for sustainability, encouraging dialogue around ecological urban living. In a city like Athens, increasingly affected by the Urban Heat Island effect, it proposes a new paradigm: redefining how architecture can harmonize with natural systems, promoting energy efficiency and environmental awareness as central design principles.
