Location: Karachi, Sindh
Size: 7000 SF
Year of Completion: 2018 (Un-built)
Design Team: Zohaib Zuby, Tuba Munir, Awab Alvi
Description: The Mango Tree House is an experimental concept rooted in the idea that the land belongs more to the existing old trees than to the humans who inherit the property. The architectural vision was to create spaces that honor and respect these trees. The design orients courtyards and forms in response to the prominent presence of the trees on the site. In some instances, the forms intersect with the tree canopies, allowing residents to touch the branches and leaves. In other cases, the structure bends to accommodate the trees, or creates a promenade that plays with the hide-and-reveal quality of the natural surroundings. Large windows open up to the trees, inviting residents to step out, sit, or play in their shade. The courtyard, which descends to a basement level, reinforces the connection to nature, reminding us that even as we dig into the ground, we are still in dialogue with the earth’s contours. The vision for this project was to experiment with a way of life in close proximity to nature, where architecture serves as a respectful partner to the natural world.
