The art of living in the heart of the forest

 When architecture blends harmoniously with nature, the forest becomes much more than just a landscape. It plays a full part in the experience of life and, as autumn arrives, offers a spectacle of remarkable colours.

Nature has a unique ability to soothe us. Indeed, numerous studies have established a link between contact with natural spaces and our mental health as well as our general well-being. Homes situated close to nature, and more specifically in the heart of forests, allow us to fully enjoy this beneficial environment when their architecture also maintains a close relationship with the outdoors. With the arrival of autumn, these landscapes are transformed, offering a spectacle of particularly striking colours.

Olson Kundig, an architecture firm based in Seattle, has been exploring the relationship between buildings and natural landscapes for many years. For its projects set in woodland environments, the firm seeks in particular to create a dialogue between the architecture and its surroundings, giving nature a central role rather than seeking to dominate it.

To achieve this harmony, the positioning of the house is essential. Buildings can thus be nestled amongst the trees rather than replacing them, whilst some are raised on stilts so as to live within the forest as close as possible to the canopy, whilst allowing the local vegetation to grow beneath and around the building.

The choice of materials also contributes to this continuity with the environment. The use of timber, in particular, helps to establish a natural dialogue between the façades and the trees surrounding them. An opening to the sky can also reveal one of the unique pleasures of forest life: thanks to limited light pollution, the nights offer particularly favourable conditions for stargazing.

But when it comes to designing or choosing a house in the heart of the forest, windows play a vital role. Large floor-to-ceiling windows can create the sensation that the forest extends directly into the interior. When the glazing even extends beyond the usual boundaries of the floor and ceiling, the boundary between the home and its surroundings seems almost to disappear.

On a wooded peninsula in northern Finland, on the shores of Lake Iso-Veska, a building constructed from Arctic pine logs lends a warm and authentic feel to this chalet, designed to be lived in all year round. Although dating from 1987, the property nevertheless boasts a decidedly contemporary aesthetic thanks to its large windows that extend from floor to roof. These allow the surrounding landscapes to flow into every room and offer sweeping views of the natural surroundings.

In Wilson, Wyoming, the windows of another bespoke property offer spectacular panoramic views of the Jackson Hole valley, the Grand Teton range and the Snake River. Here too, the materials continue the dialogue with the surroundings: timber cladding adorns the exterior of the house and carries through into the interior, complemented by stone floors.

In the French Alps, this château in Usinens, near Annecy, offers yet another example of the special relationship between a building and its natural surroundings. Built in the 14th century, it stands at the heart of an estate covering some 30 hectares, nestled amongst forests, countryside and rolling hills. It is a well-preserved setting where heritage and nature come together and reveal themselves in different ways as the seasons change.

These properties, which maintain a genuine continuity between indoors and outdoors, bring the benefits of nature directly into the daily lives of their occupants. When a home can truly open up to its surroundings, this sense of closeness takes on yet another dimension.

Forested areas also generally offer an environment that is better protected from the pollutants found in urban areas. They are also rich in phytoncides – compounds produced by plants which, when inhaled, can help to lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate and alleviate stress, whilst supporting the body’s natural defences.

The forest also provides a unique sense of calm and intimacy. The light is filtered through the foliage, sounds are muffled and the scents change with the seasons. Architecture can therefore enhance this experience by creating spaces that are both intimate and open to nature.

Time spent in the forest can thus take on an almost meditative quality: worries subside, the pace slows down and the mind regains a greater sense of clarity. These sensations partly explain the appeal of properties that allow people to live as close as possible to natural spaces.

Living in the heart of the forest ultimately means choosing a lifestyle where nature is an integral part of everyday life. When architecture knows how to take a back seat to the landscape, the forest becomes much more than a backdrop: it becomes part of the very experience of the home.