breathing forest
breathing forest
an enfilade of rooms on a rooftop,
surrounded by the dappled light of a forest,
that glows, warms, and cools the rooms
RIBA London Award 2010
Breathing Forest grows out of the attic floor servant quarters of a grade II listed 1928 Beaux-Arts mansion block in Marylebone, London. The apartment is composed of two main oak-panelled rooms that look out onto a 45-metre long terrace.
Fixed objects in each room signify a primary function. The refectory has a kitchen island, a dining table and an octagonal study desk with corresponding skylights to bring in natural daylight and elevate the importance of the domestic rituals. The salon, a place for reclining, has horizontal sliding panels with horizontal grain, opening on to rooms for sleeping.
Inhabitable apertures link the main rooms to the terrace. These alcoves are lined with white powder-coated aluminium panels, perforated with a forest of trees. From behind the perforations computer-controlled vents open and close to cool the apartment, panel heaters create warmth, and lights illuminate the breathing forest at night.
client roach and partners
location london, uk
status completed 2010
structural engineer price & myers
m&e engineer archineers
lighting tonkin liu