MEET ITALY’S TREEHOUSE APARTMENT BLOCK FOR GROWN-UPS

The building’s curved, varied facade is supported by industrial steel girders cut into playful branch-like structures. The exterior is melded with 150 trees which help to moderate temperature in the apartments, filtering sunlight on hot days and providing insulation when the weather cools. The greenery is diversified with large planters along the terraces, green walls, and a private green-roof courtyard atop the fifth floor.

With this immense greenery comes significant environmental benefits. According to the architect, the trees produce 150,000 litres of oxygen each hour, while absorbing 200,000 litres of carbon dioxide an hour at night. On top of reducing air pollution for the neighbourhood, the trees also provide an aesthetically pleasing barrier against the noise of the outside world. Heating and cooling systems for the apartments utilise geothermal energy and rainwater is also recycled for watering the building’s greenery.

While breaking away from the homogenous urban development in the area, this 'adult' treehouse also affords its tenants a second childhood.