The layout of the treehouse is based on a pentagonal pattern. A concept, which is interesting as there is no possibility of creating an infinite addition of pentagons without having leftovers. These leftovers are essential in our concept: they’re creating interesting light situations, linking the interior to the existing nature and integrating the existing trees into the house (within the resulting courtyards). Like leafs are creating a space underneath a tree, light and shadow are becoming fundamental elements creating different qualities of space in the treehouse.

The house is organized on two levels and partially cantilevers over the water. The main orientation the is towards the lake and the “snowy mountains” in the back. The complexity of the geometry stands in contrast to the simplicity of the materials and details of the building. A concrete made out of bamboo boarding is used for the inside and the outside of the building. The interior and exterior floors are made out of a dark hardwood, as are the windows and the wood shutters (its opening pattern is again based on the pentagonal concept of the plan).

History
HHF architects was founded in 2003 by Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann and Simon Frommenwiler. Since then HHF architects could realize several projects in Switzerland. With the “Baby Dragon”, a pavilion in the Jinhua Architecture Park in China, they could work for the first time internationally. Further projects in China and the USA, which are now under construction followed this first building abroad. At present HHF architects are working amongst other things on a housing project near the City of Basel, which is planned to be finished in 2007. In addition to building and architecture, teaching is an important constituent of the office. Simon Hartmann is teaching assistant at the ETH Studio Basel with the Professors Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Roger Diener and Marcel Meili since 2002 and head of teaching since 2005. Simon Frommenwiler is teaching assistant with Professor Harry Gugger at the ETH in Lausanne since 2005.

Profile
Founded: 2003
Type of company: GmbH (LLC)
Partners: Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann, Simon Frommenwiler
Team: Christian Brunner, Walter Gloor, Salomé Gutscher, Rahel Reichenstein, Laurenz Reinitzer, Tom Strub, Magnus Zwyssig and Simon Zimmermann. The team consists of architects, draftsmen and interns.

Partners
Tilo Herlach
1972 Born in Zurich/Switzerland
1992 – 1998 Studies in Architecture at ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne, Prof. P. Berger
1994 Collaboration with E. Neuenschwander, Zurich and d-company, Bern/Switzerland;
1998 Masters at ETH Zurich, Prof R. Tropeano
1998 - 2001 Collaboration with d-company, Bern/Switzer- land
2001 - 2003 Collaboration with Rolf Furrer Architekten, Basel/Switzerland
2003 Founding of HHF architects, Basel/Switzerland

Simon Hartmann
1974 Born in Bern/Switzerland
1994 – 2000 Studies in Architecture at EPF Lausanne, TU Berlin and ETH Zurich; Masters at EPF Lausanne with Prof. V. Mangeat
1997 - 2003 Collaboration with Nicola di Battista, Rome/Italy; A.B.D.R. Architetti, Rome/Italy; Garofalo & Miura, Rome/Italy; Steuerwald + Scheiwiller Architekten, Basel/Switzerland; Rolf Furrer Architekten, Basel/Switzerland
Since 2002 teaching assistant at the ETH Studio Basel with Prof. J. Herzog, P. de Meuron, R. Diener, M. Meili
2003 Founding of HHF architects, Basel/Switzerland
Since 2005 Head of teaching at the ETH Studio Basel

Simon Frommenwiler
1972 Born in London
1994 – 2000 Studies in Architecture at ETH Zurich; Masters with Prof. H. Kollhoff
1997 – 2003 Collaborations with Bearth & Deplazes, Chur/Switzerland; Faculty member with Prof. A. Deplazes, ETH Zurich; ARchos Architecture, Basel/Switzerland; Skidmore Owings & Merrill, New York/USA; WTC-Competition, member of team SOM-Sejima-Neutelings, New York/USA
2003 Founding of HHF architects
Since 2005 teaching assistent at ETH Lausanne with Prof. Harry Gugger

HHF architects
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 17, 4056 Basel, Switzerland, Tel +41 61 263 8080, Fax +41 61 263 8090, info@hhf.ch, www.hhf.ch