The Architecture vs Nature Relationship Emphasized By Indoor Trees

Growing trees indoors sounds a bit unusual but not so much after you have a look at all these inspiring examples which show strong the relationship between architecture and nature really is. That’s right, indoor trees are pretty trendy right now and they’ve actually been for quite some time. Architects from all over the world managed to use them in all sorts of wonderful projects. You can see some of the results below.

Pedro house with indoor trees

The Pedro House designed by VDV ARQ and located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is organized around a series of courtyards, each with a unique style and character. This is one of them. There are trees growing right through the floor and ceiling, each with its own skylight. Together, these courtyards turn the interior spaces into extensions of the outdoors.

Pedro house with indoor trees

This is a house designed by POMC arquitecto in 2013 It’s located in Guadalajara, Mexico and can best be described as a series of heavy and robust volumes with a surprisingly lightweight and delicate appearance. That was made possible by features such as this amazing double-height courtyards with a myrtle tree surrounded by vegetation. 

Pedro house with indoor trees

Even a small interior courtyard such as the one designed by architect Fabian Tan for this house from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia can have a big impact on the overall structure and design of a building. In this case, the central courtyard has the role of connecting spaces and bringing more natural light inside. The indoor tree is decorative.

Pedro house with indoor trees

This residence from Singapore designed by ONG&ONG Pte Ltd has its own way of making indoor trees look amazing. The house has a long and linear floor plan and is divided into two sections with a large area in between. Here, a large tree grows through a wooden deck by a pool.

Pedro house with indoor trees

The relationship between this six-story high building and its surroundings is a very strong one. The structure was designed by Ryo Matsui Architects and is located in Tokyo, Japan. Its ground floor has a small garden built right into it. The upper floor has its own courtyard and indoor tree. This opening brings in lots of natural light and ensures a very open and bright floor plan. 

Pedro house with indoor trees

For this unique house from Shibuya, Japan, Yuko Nagayama & Associates created a special interior courtyard, sort of like a hill which can be seen from all the rooms but can’t be reached by anyone. It’s an unusual concept which makes the indoor tree stand out even more. 

Pedro house with indoor trees

The indoor tree is, in the case of this residence from Rome, Italy, an old olive tree. The house was designed by Noses Architects and has an open plan living and dining area. The tree is encased in glass and can be admired from all sides. It serves as a symbol of the local beauty of this place and it strengthens the relationship between architecture and nature. 

Pedro house with indoor trees

It’s important to be in touch with nature from an early age and that’s exactly what this nursery from Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan focuses on. This was a project completed by studios HIBINOSEKKEI and Youji no Shiro. It’s a lovely space with  skylights and big windows that let the outdoors in, a big garden and even a large indoor tree.

Pedro house with indoor trees

This house built by Coalesce Design Studio in Karachi, Pakistan has a small but pretty noticeable slope built right into it. This gives it an edge when it comes to the relationship between architecture and nature. It has features a series of indoor trees which, although quite small, are like rays of sunlight, bringing a whole new kind of beauty into the spaces. The trees are part of mini courtyards or interior gardens spread throughout the house on various levels.

Pedro house with indoor trees

When a21studio started working on this project, the clients knew exactly what they wanted: an open and bright studio surrounded by trees, like a cage, with rain water and sunlight pouring in and with blurred out barriers between the indoor and the outdoor. To make that happen, the architects turned to indoor trees and made the most of this strategy, creating a 40 square meter studio with lots of character and plenty of cohesion.

Pedro house with indoor trees

Finally, check out how studio SeARCH took the idea of indoor trees to a whole new level when they designed the Jakarta Hotel on the tip of Java Island in Ansterdam, The Netherlands. The hotel features an atrium with a subtropical garden at its center. It serves as a temperature regulator and obviously also as a visual attraction. It can be admired from the upper floors throughout the hotel and it’s protected by a glass rooftop which contains BIPV cells that collect energy while also offering shading for the indoor trees and vegetation.