A Towering Tree Grows Through the Roof of This Tropical Sanctuary

The occupants of the Aperture House by Formwerkz Architects take shelter under lush foliage and expansive eaves.

The mono-pitched roof is made from timber battens and Lysaght Kip-lock steel roofing.

The portfolio of Singapore-based Formwerkz Architects is filled with unusual projects—from a home with a ramped running path to a residence with a dramatic roof that mimics origami folds. However a common threads run through each work: an affinity for natural, unadorned materials and greenery—often in the form of grass-capped rooftops and flourishing landscaping.

Case in point: the Aperture House is defined by a low-dipping, mono-pitched roof punctuated by a large opening for a tall indoor tree. Compared to neighboring houses with multifaceted roof angles and fussy facades, it is dramatic in its simplicity.

The home’s simple, abstract shape contrasts with neighboring homes, which are mainly clad in terra-cotta roof tiles.
A tall tree grows through a large aperture in the mono-pitched roof, bringing an outdoor feel to the inside of the house.

There is a contemplative quality to the clean lines that provide respite under shadowed eaves. The roof plane, made with a steady rhythm of steel and timber, is precise and neat.

This quietude and elegance is in tune with the clients’ desires. The homeowners wished for privacy from the prying eyes of neighbors, and for cool, comfortable spaces sheltered from the glare and heat of the unforgiving tropical sun.

From the street, the house is shielded from inquisitive eyes.

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Towering Tree Grows Through the Roof of This Tropical Sanctuary
Related stories:

  • A Ballet Dancer’s Tiny Barbican Studio Has a Choreographed Routine of Its Own
  • A 17th-Century Cottage Becomes a Boho Surf Retreat in England
  • Three Friends Join Forces to Build a Four-Gabled Getaway on Shelter Island

Similar Posts

  • Pia Residence

    Pia residence is located in an irregular land, in el Uro, N,L. The project consists in two main volumes, each by a series of alternated courtyards. The frontal volume is single leveled with a double height element that highlights the main entrance, and it is accessed through a series of a triangular concrete prints that provides a sense of continuity through the street and the sidewalk. The volume in the back has two levels and is separated from de frontal volume by a patio that functions as an extension of the social area, kitchen and studio situated in the lower level, also provides ventilation, views and sunlight to the area. The courtyard is divided a staircase enclosed in a glass volume that links the vertical and horizontal connections of the building. The posterior patio has two garden areas that unites the laundry and service areas providing a sense of visual continuity to the area. Concrete was used as the main material of the project; as an apparent formwork on the façade as polished floors and some colored cement on details. Also important is the use of the custom steel work on windows gates, doors and stairs. The landscaping consisted on low maintenance, regional plants. Pia residence is the result of the transformation of a country house to a suburban house without losing the relation between the building and the exterior, preserving, nevertheless the privacy of the interior areas. It is a reinterpretation of the Mexican architecture of the second half of the twentieth century with a new formal character. Name of the Project: Pia Residence Location: Gated community El Refugio, El Uro, Nuevo León, México Area: 200 M2 Autor: Ar. José García Toledo Collaborators: PE. Eduardo Vásquez Velásquez Ar. Fernanda Roiz Silva ID. Andrea García Aragón ID. Luis Carlos Rodríguez González ID. Sinuhé Machuca Esquivel Ar. Krizia Nasser Ar. Christian López Photography: Ar. Francisco Martín Alvarez de la Vega / The Raws Human scales: Patricio Betteo