TreeTop House by SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture
TreeTop House sits on half an acre in Longboat Key, Florida, where SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture shapes a compact family house around creek views and privacy. The 2017 design answers a suburban site with a restrained plan, a water entry, and long sight lines that keep the rooms connected to the landscape. Inside, light, ventilation, and durable materials support everyday living and entertaining.
About TreeTop House
Situated on half an acre, this project is designed to reflect the owner’s desire for a minimalist home for both living and entertaining. Set in a suburban neighborhood, the challenge is to maximize views of the adjacent creek while addressing the need for privacy.
The sequence of arrival begins by crossing the stepping stones that lead over the entry pool and fountain. Inside, the main living areas unfold without ever losing their connection to the water. Walls and windows are carefully oriented to provide privacy while opening to the surrounding nature.
Sliding glass doors, views down long corridors, and transom windows bring natural light through the house over the course of the day. The centrally located kitchen opens to the dining and living room and features natural quartzite countertops and a glass-tile backsplash that carries the unembellished aesthetic forward.
A modern stairway of solid cedar steps organizes the daily move from public to private spaces upstairs, while a playful landing overlooks the pool. To encourage natural cross ventilation, sliding glass doors disappear within the walls, leaving an unobstructed view toward the pool terrace on one side and an outdoor deck on the other.
The living experience extends outdoors, where wide overhangs and existing mesic hammock trees offer protection from the elements. Smart home energy controls and electrochromatic glazing reduce energy use and remove the need for blinds, while energy-efficient windows, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, a well-insulated building envelope, and low-flow plumbing fixtures help conserve resources. Light and form work with nature to strengthen the site and keep the house in step with its context.
Photography courtesy of SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture
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