There are a lot of innovative infrastructures available in the world today. From sky-high skyscrapers to high rise condominium towers, these buildings are not only residential and commercial homes — they are also turning into as turning points in architectural ideas. One of these is the White Tree.
Exploring The White Tree
The White Tree or L’Arbre Blanc is a 17-storey high-rise building located in Montpellier, France. This modern infrastructure is the brainchild of Japanese architecture Sou Fujimoto.
The White Tree is a tower block shaped like a pine cone with several balconies sprouting outwards in different directions. The idea behind this architecture is the different forms of nature.
The L’Arbre Blanc is inspired by Montpellier’s tradition of outdoor living. As the name suggests, the building has an unusual shape that takes inspiration from the tree form. The structure’s balconies draw natural light, absorbing the sunlight like the leaves. This design serves multipurpose: it offers the best exposure for each unit yet it does not block the view for the other residents.
What It Has To Offer
The White Tree has endless stair-step balconies which protrude off the building’s trunk-like core, the same way branches protrude from a tree. Other than the balconies jutting off in different directions like branches, there are also functional decks that provide shade to the adjoining units.
Each resident will find a versatile space in each flat. There are different settings to choose from: southeast two-bedroom, west-facing three-bedroom, and spacious studios.
This unique 56-meter tall tower features 120 residential units and office spaces. It houses a restaurant and an art gallery on the ground floor plus a penthouse bar that offers great views of the mountains and coastline.
While the White Tree is fully function, the extravagant design that it has challenges the traditional notions of architecture and some mark it as an architectural folly.
Given a chance, would you like to stay in the White Tree?
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