The elegant natural beauty of trees built into living spaces.

“Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.” 

-Rabindranath Tagore

Almost every home contains a few houseplants and probably some fine landscaping outdoors, but now, architects and homeowners are taking the green living movement to a new level by incorporating live trees into their homes. And unlike a typical potted plant or tree, these residential real estate floor plans actually include trees rooted in the earth, creating stunning indoor nature-scapes that are redefining the separation of man, home, and environment.

Building around venerable and grand trees instead of cutting them down is nothing new of course, but now, luxury architects and some of the world’s most exclusive designers are refocusing on the symbiosis with nature that results in these unique eco-loving visions.

Logistically, it’s quite easy to do. When a tree is identified as sitting smack dab somewhere in the center of the future floor plan, the only options are to cut it down or keep it. From there, homeowners have myriad ways to exercise their creativity in keeping the prized arbor; building around it, letting it rise right through from floor to sky, encasing it in glass, building the house’s foundation on its roots, or allowing the tree to blossom and spread right inside the structure. A good number of tree species grow well in partial light and can endure a variety of temperatures, climates, and moisture levels. 

But whether a tropical tree house or ultra modern estate, from Argentina to Auckland, Mexico City to Manhattan, the Hollywood Hills to the jungles of Honduras, chestnut, fig, sycamore, ash, and even redwood trees are being used as a centerpiece of construction.

So just like enjoying a silent stroll through a tranquil forest, we’ll cease the chatter and let you enjoy the emerald beauty of the world’s nicest houses with trees built into them.