One such fitting example can be found in the Pedras Salgadas Park (a holiday hideaway located an hour’s drive north east of Porto in Portugal) where two recently constructed contemporary structures have brought a reptilian sense of otherworldliness to the park’s historic wooded landscape. Taking their inspiration from the long and tapered proportions of a snake, Lisbon-based architects Luís Rebelo de Andrade & Tiago Rebelo de Andrade of Rebelo de Andrade Studio, have designed two concurrent Tree Snake Houses. Rather than build a treehouse in the branches of a tree, the distinctive snake-like houses, with their slate and wood facades, appear to glide sinuously amongst the trees. The structures become elevated and are raised on stilts as the ground dips downwards, whereupon they assume the air of a snake that is readying itself to lunge. Enjoying a close physical association with the one-hundred year old Pedras Salgadas Park, their aspect is one that is congruous with the park’s natural surroundings. Close attention was paid to making sure that they neither dominated nor vied greedily for attention (despite their eye-catching appearance).

Each Tree Snake House offers accommodation that is intended to be clean and simple, concentrating only on necessary features and attributes. The interiors, accessed via a long narrow bridge, are compact but well-proportioned, containing a studio (with combined living and sleeping spaces), a kitchenette and bathroom. Inside, the style is minimal, verging on stark, and windows offer views of the park and night stars. Sustainable design contributes to the conservation of the environment, with reinforced insulation, water recycling, low energy lighting and the use of solar panels providing the houses with a self-sufficient advantage. 

Developed in collaboration with the constructor Modular System, the Pedras Salgadas Park project has numerous applications; the structure of the Tree Snake House can be modified to suit varied terrains and weather conditions. As such, architects Rebelo de Andrade Studio are also developing models for a Mountain Snake House, River Snake House and Sand Snake House that will be offered for acquisition to the public in the future.

With their modern charm and intriguing structure, the Tree Snake Houses offer their visitors a unique, quirky and captivating stay.