Placed within a suburban infill site, the scheme is composed around a mature flowering cherry that forms the focus to a private courtyard. Addressing its edge, a series of interlinked living spaces is capped by a planted roof that generates an elevated landscape connecting the first floor to the crown of the cherry beyond. The circulation at ground floor addresses the courtyard, with that at first floor forming an extended 'gallery' located at the level of the planted roof. The upper floor is clad in naturally durable and renewable red cedar and engages with a brick base that reflects the character of the surrounding context. Its thermal mass is harnessed within a system of passive heating and cooling assisted by natural cross ventilation and the scheme is orientated to benefit from passive solar gains, the cherry contributing seasonal shade to the highly transparent ground floor.
