olin petzold hides minimalist 'casetta tessino' treehouse in the woods of switzerland

"Dubbed Casetta Tessino, a tiny and modern treehouse by Olin Petzold stands in the woods of Valle Onsernone, Switzerland. Completed in early 2024, the elevated timber structure sits apart from an existing house on a steep, forested plot near the village of Loco, positioned as a place for writing and short-term retreat. The commission came from a Swiss artist and climate activist seeking a secluded writer's workspace away from the main house."

"Casetta Tessino is built by architect Olin Petzold as a response to local zoning regulations, which prohibit additions to the existing building stock and the creation of new foundations. Thus, an elevated structure was set within the forest canopy, sited around 100 to 150 meters from the main house. The cabin hovers among three mature oak trees, accessed by foot along a narrow woodland path."

"A freely suspended support system connects three primary beams to the trees, forming an irregular triangular frame. On this, an equilateral triangle defines the floor plan, rotated so that its corners project between the trunks. One face turns toward the slope, while the other two open up and down the valley, aligning views along the terrain rather than toward the main house."

Casetta Tessino is a compact, modern treehouse by Olin Petzold located in the woods of Valle Onsernone, Switzerland, completed in early 2024. The elevated timber cabin sits 100 to 150 meters from an existing house on a steep forested plot and hovers among three mature oak trees. The project responds to zoning rules prohibiting new foundations by using a freely suspended support system that connects three primary beams to trees, forming an irregular triangular frame. An equilateral triangle floor plan rotates so its corners project between trunks, orienting two faces toward the valley and one toward the slope. The brief prioritized essential functions: sleeping, sitting, and a workspace for writers, intended as a shared retreat for writers and creatives.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine