Studio Officina82 Elevates TreeBOX Timber Retreat Within Alpine Hamlet of Selucente

Architects Fabio Revetria and Lara Sappa of Studio Officina82 have completed TreeBOX, an elevated timber accommodation situated among the oak canopy of Selucente in Garessio, Italy. Set at an altitude of 1,000 meters in the Ligurian-Piedmontese Alps, the compact cabin is raised on four wooden posts above the sloping forest floor, avoiding any structural load on the surrounding trees. A pedestrian bridge connects the hillside terrain directly to the entrance, while broad corner glazing opens the interior toward the wooded landscape and distant mountain ridges.

Reinterpreting Rural Typologies

The design of TreeBOX draws direct inspiration from the barchi, traditional hay barns historically found across the Ligurian Alps. These rural agricultural structures feature movable roofs supported by four timber posts that slide vertically depending on the volume of hay stored inside. Officina82 translates this functional vernacular mechanism into an upward silhouette, shaping the cabin so that the roof profile appears to have extended upward into the tree branches. Timber shingles cover the roof, walls, and faceted underside of the volume, creating a continuous textured wooden skin that integrates the cabin into the forest setting.

Compact Vertical Organization

Inside the restrained footprint, the layout is organized vertically to maximize spatial efficiency. The primary sleeping area is positioned directly against the full-height glazing, placing the bed next to views of forest trunks and leaves. Light plywood panels, exposed structural framing, and minimal built-in elements establish a quiet interior palette. Above the bed, a suspended rope net forms a mezzanine-level resting space beneath the roof, while an overhead skylight draws natural daylight into the upper volume and frames the canopy above.

Revitalizing an Alpine Hamlet

TreeBOX is part of Selucente, a broader hospitality and restoration initiative focused on Alpisella, an abandoned alpine settlement. Once a regional center for family-run farms featuring an elementary school and a rural chapel, the hamlet has been undergoing conservation-led recovery since 2020 by designers and promoters Fabio Revetria, Lara Sappa, Tiziana, and Roberto. Existing stone structures have been restored, and new lightweight timber interventions such as StarsBOX, GlamBOX, and now TreeBOX introduce contemporary seasonal uses. The project aims to reactivate marginal mountain regions through context-driven design without converting the historic hamlet into an open-air museum.

Key facts

Project | TreeBOX casa sull’albero
Location | Selucente, Garessio, Cuneo, Italy
Architects | Fabio Revetria and Lara Sappa, Studio Officina82
Photography | Giulia Sarno

Implications for Regional Design

For architects and urban planners working in rural territories, the project offers a tested model for low-impact tourism infrastructure. By elevating lightweight structures on independent supports, studios can introduce habitable spaces into fragile ecosystems without permanent soil disruption or heavy foundation works. The reliance on local agricultural archetypes also demonstrates how vernacular construction principles can inspire contemporary architectural solutions that respect historical contexts while accommodating modern hospitality needs.

Source: Designboom, https://www.designboom.com/architecture/officina82-traditional-italian-hay-barn-timber-treetop-retreat-ligurian-alps/

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