Use trees that no one wants (overcrowded, diseased, fallen, invasive, wind-bent, young growth) and create amazing buildings with them.
Pioneering Whole Tree Architect Roald Gundersen of Whole Trees Architecture and Structures
Roald Gundersen, of Stoddard, Wisconsin, has been using whole tree round timber technology to construct beautiful, strong, economical and extremely green buildings for the past 20 years.
Gundersen founding partner and CEO of Whole Trees, received his Bachelor of Architecture and a BS in Environmental Design from the University of Minnesota, (1984). His work as a project architect on the Biosphere 2 in Arizona focused his architecture on integrated living systems. On returning to his native Wisconsin, Roald has spent the last 20 years creating a place-basedarchitecture from abundant, local and low energy materials. He has pioneered the use of whole trees/round timbers in residential, institutional and commercial construction projects, inspired by the140 acres of forests he stewards near La Crosse, WI.
This Gundersen-designed farmhouse in Avalanche, Wisconsin, was built almost entirely from trees taken from within 500 yards of the house. The house features a slab on grade foundation with in-floor heating tubes to take advantage of the solar gain in the winter from its large southern exposure. The envelope is straw bale, but the structure is entirely “whole tree” with branching columns supporting it and framed with round wood poles under the second floor and roof. The attached solar greenhouse on the south side of the house adds heat in the winter and serves as a gray water recycling system to treat water from the kitchen and shower. The trees for this structure were skidded out with the farm draft horse.
甘德森说:“这既是设计上的挑战，也是施工上的挑战，因为我们在很大程度上处于机器时代。”“虽然机器擅长画直线，但树喜欢画曲线。”
The Kara Woods Residence is a new home for two Franciscan Sisters at theChristine Center这是威斯康星州威拉德市的一个自然保护区。他们希望住宅能为他们的艺术、智力、创意和精神追求提供空间，因此设计了一个低矮的草皮屋顶的整棵树结构，有一个圆形的工作室空间和一个向东延伸到更多私人区域的生活区。该项目于2010年秋季完工。wholetreesarchitecture.com
Whole tree round timber buildings compete favorably with conventional construction while offering a more durable and fireproof structure. From the perspective of the community, whole tree round timber construction invests a greater proportion of its costs into local jobs and materials than conventional construction and also promotes healthy forest management for local timber resources.wholetreesarchitecture.com
Gundersen states that; “(milled) wood comes from British Columbia and Indonesia, but who in Iowa doesn’t have standing dead elm on their farm? For a lot of local farmers, woods are a non-profit part of the farm.” Young growth forestry offers builders an affordable, local alternative to expensive, far-away materials. “In the future, if people do start using this material more and in a much bigger way, there can also be this whole economy that doesn’t now exist in each local community.”wholetreesarchitecture.com
Whole tree railings,wholetreesarchitecture.com
Myrick Hixon EcoPark building. Whole Trees installed a 26′-0” structural round timber column, large wooden slab benches and a round timber stair leading up to a new mezzanine space.wholetreesarchitecture.com
Whole Tree Framing
wholetreesarchitecture.com
Urban Plans
wholetreesarchitecture.com
WholeTrees模块化生态套件设计。在1000平方英尺的面积下，Tussen Taak住宅将其空间划分为高天花板的起居/餐厅/厨房空间和更私人的浴室和卧室区域，上面有阁楼空间。内部结构是整棵树，围墙由重新用途的运输托盘建造，以减少所需的新材料数量。拱形棚屋顶向南倾斜，充分利用被动式太阳能设计原则。wholetreesarchitecture.com
This whole tree greenhouse, completed in 2010, was prefabricated during the winter and erected on site in a series of concentrated construction site visits. It has a round wood, whole tree structure and polycarbonate paneling and vents on both the south façade and the north roof. At Troy Gardens, a 26 acre urban property in Madison, WI, with community gardens, an organic farm and restored prairie and woodlands. See lots more greenhouses here:wholetreesarchitecture.com
Whole Trees has designed and constructed a two-story playscape with a swinging bridge leading out to a free-standing “bird’s nest” platform, inviting children to experience the varied levels of the forest (floor, trunk zone, and canopy). The pentagon-shaped platforms frame views to nearby marsh and bluffs.wholetreesarchitecture.com
Amazing Examples Of Whole Tree Architecture
整个树建筑在明尼阿波利2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率斯。
Interior design by Gabberts Design Studio, yet architect not stated.
houzz.com
整个树建筑在明尼阿波利2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率斯。
Interior design by Gabberts Design Studio, yet architect not stated.
houzz.com
整个树建筑在明尼阿波利2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率斯。
Interior design by Gabberts Design Studio, yet architect not stated.
houzz.com
整个树建筑在明尼阿波利2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率斯。
Interior design by Gabberts Design Studio, yet architect not stated.
houzz.com
整个树建筑在明尼阿波利2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率斯。
Interior design by Gabberts Design Studio, yet architect not stated.
houzz.com
Structural testing of small diameter round timbers conducted by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory found that small diameter round timber is 50% stronger in axial loading and bending than a comparable cross-sectional area of milled lumber. This is due in part to the fact that milling violates a tree’s concentric, continuous and spiraling fibers removing the strongest outer layers of the tree, which are naturally pre-tensioned to resist wind shear.wholetreesarchitecture.com
Local ash trees used for whole tree architecture.
Quebec, CA.Macrae-Gibson Architects.
Image: ArchtecturalDigest.
Whole tree supports in home in the Poconos by Josh Jackson.
timberhomesllc.com
Corallo House / PAZ Arquitectura
Guatemala. Unbelievable house!
archdaily
美国农业部林产品实验室的结构测试发现，“小直径圆材”或“整树圆材”与钢相比，在压缩时的重量强度比是钢的两倍，在拉伸时是钢的两倍。
Whole tree rafters at the Gatehouse.
envisioneer.net
Maharishi管理大学在爱荷华州新建的可持续生活中心是卓越环保的典范。由创新设计公司设计的零能源教室建筑，将以充满光伏板的2022世界杯四强亚盘赔率屋顶、雨水收集系统、自然通风和当地和区域采购所有材料为特色，符合“生活建筑挑战”。Whole Trees为中央走廊提供了一个结构柱廊，它将吸收成吨的二氧化碳。Visit the Sustainable Living Center website:mum.edu
Maharishi University of Management – central hallway.mum.edu
David Vandervort Architects.
Key Peninsula Residence,vandervort.com
Whole tree kitchen – Kara Woods
Tree limbs support kitchen shelving.
Hornby Island Caravans
hornbyislandcaravans.com
Treehouse House.
Photo from Thomas Cundiff Facebook.
Whole Tree Architecture In Wales by Simon Dale
Home by Simon Dale (man hours 1500, cost $4700).simondale.net
Whole Tree House by Simon Dale (his second).simondale.net
整棵树的椽和框架。主要使用的工具:电锯、锤子和1英寸的凿子，其他很少。simondale.net
Key Design And Construction Points by Simon Dale
- Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
- Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
- Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
- Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
- Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
- Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
- Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
- Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
- Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring…)
- Woodburner for heating – renewable and locally plentiful
- Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
- Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
- Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
- Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
- Water by gravity from nearby spring
- Compost toilet
- Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.
Simon is also an excellent photographer – check out his photos:simondale.net
Read an interview with Simon here:simondale.net
My home in Barre, Vermont was part of a natural disaster I am able to still live in the original home built in 1924,but an addition from the 1960’s has to be removed. I have not sought a FEMA buy out because there is little money left over to start again. I have 12 acres in another town that I have been trying to brainstorm what I could do to build another sturdy home with little money. There is about a half acre open area on base rock and rest is woods. I am very interested I have learning more of whole tree construction.
Thank you for posting on facebook,
Carol Garland
Hi Carol,
So sorry to hear the addition on your house was taken.
But, does sound as though you have the resources for a whole tree addition, being you have 12 acres. Sounds like a fun, but intense project! Have fun with the plans. Both the ‘Whole Tree Architect’ and Simon Dale had quite a bit of info on their sites, you just had to discover it, by methodically going page by page. Also check out –https://www.envisioneer.net/gallery.php– some good step by step whole tree designs here too. Best to you, Keiren
nice very inspiring! I am also working on making things out of the whole tree. Look athttp://www.beeldhout.nl
Kind regards, Gert-Jan
Estupendo!!!!
haganme llegar mas proyectos sobre todo para chicos con sillas de ruedas….
absolutely amazing and a great inspiration for me.
thank god people like you exist,
wow ,i’m getting ideas and inspiration from your creativity and freedom. i live on a farm in australia, there are many trees, clay and stone to build with,
i’m gonna let my hair down,and let nature inspire,
me,
This is so amazing and I love it! I would love to have something like one of the above to be built on my property! I wish you could see the inside of the house in the hill. That one is my favorite! Love it!
I haven’t had my morning coffee yet. I see the inside now!
Really love the design and construction of these homes. You should send these images to Mr. Peter Jackson, he may be interested in having you work on his next Hobit movies. Or film in the ones you have already built. They’re beautiful.
Love this idea and how you use natural trees to come alive (or stay alive) in so many way. We live on the bay front on Long Island. Would love a pergola design to lead over the walkway to out waterfront. Do you work onLong Island?
So beautiful and inspiring Some of these photos are new to me. Thank you for sharing! <3
very cool, we live just east of St Louis(Freeburg,Illinois)on 20 acres of old oak & hickory woods. Any builders close enough to give us an opinion if we could do something like this?
Jay Johnston
h# 618 539 9188
c# 618 407 5063
很高兴看到这样使用木材。谢谢分享。
I have enjoyed these beautifully designed homes I have access to a lot of trees and would rather not build with milled lumber for my house. I would like some electronic documents for design ideas. Engineering principles or tree selection. info on using green trees?
I’m thinking about trying to do a gravity fed aqua-ponics setup for seasonal plants, there’s a big hill on the property. Please. Send any cool ideas…Weaver.ryan207@gmail.com
Hi, we are looking for a 28′ tree we can use as a focal point in our mountain home. 16′ diameter with some ‘character’ at the bottom. This will be from gathering room, up through our loft. Can you help. We have searched and searched and cannot find one anywhere. Need it real soon as it will have to be set before home can really be constructed. Thank you, blessings, John and Donna
I would like to start the design of a smaller 2-bedroom home based on the fauna of the western Pennsylvania woodlands. I am quite the country boy and understand what great potentials I have to work with. Is there a source of design types I can research? Thanks, :Doug