This Amazing Dwelling In Kazakhstan Houses An Actual Tree At Its Center

Here at HEXAPOLIS, we truly appreciate a good tree house; one that effortlessly brings out the child in all of us. For instance, there was amazing Lord of the Rings-inspired tree fort that looks straight out of the fantastical universe of Middle Earth. Then there is the Dome’Up, the versatile suspended shelter that lets you immerse in nature without forgoing comfort. Nothing, however, compares to the breathtaking glass house that the team at A. Masow Design Studio is building.

In an attempt to reinvent the concept of tree house, the architects have unveiled plans for a transparent dwelling in Kazakhstan. To be constructed in the woods of the country’s largest city Almaty, the cylindrical structure features a giant tree right at its center. Its rotund glass facade encases the trunk and its lush branches, while also allowing offering spectacular 360-degree-views of the surrounding forested landscape. Aibek Almassov of A. Masow Architects said:

The main purpose of this project is to offer an alternative to the bustle of city life. We wanted to combine the capabilities of modern industrial design and the natural wealth and beauty… And more importantly it doesn’t harm to environment. This is an opportunity to escape from the sweltering concrete boxes and feel the present unity with nature.

Despite its incredibly innovative design, the building will cost significantly less than most houses in the area, which are usually sold for a staggering £625,000. By comparison, the glass tree house will quite possibly have a price tag under £225,000. The two-person home is being built for a 38-year-old businessman looking for some peace and quiet at the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range.

Given its unique location, the dwelling allows its owners to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and instead look for spiritual and creative development in the midst of nature. The structure will be constructed using concrete, plasterboard panels as well as strengthened metal columns. A long staircase extends from the building’s ground floor all the way to its topmost level, winding lazily around the tree. The team added:

Climbing the stairs [in this] unusual house can be compared with the stages of spiritual purification, enlightenment, harmonising with the environment.

Additionally, it will feature wood flooring and stunning floor-to-ceiling cylindrical windows. Originally conceived in 2013, the plan has since suffered several delays. According to Almassov, however, renewed interest from a glass and solar panel manufacturer has helped bring the project back on track. He explained:

Really it’s not so difficult to build it, the problem was to find an investor. At the moment, we have found two of the investors. One of them has owns a factory for the production of glass with transparent solar panels. He is interested in this project so we are negotiating right now with him.