The Poké Ball
- Location
- Les Trois-Moutiers, France
- Typology
- Hospitality
- Stage
- Schematic Design
- Role
- Sole author
- Year
- 2020
The Poké Ball is a prototype for elevated, lightweight living developed at the University of Sassari and entered into the 2020 YAC (Young Architects Competitions) design contest. Conceived for the historic castle grounds of Dartagnans in France, the project reinterprets the archetype of the treehouse through the lens of childhood building blocks—transforming a youthful fantasy into a highly sophisticated, real-world modular construction system called "BUILD IT UP."
At the core of the design is a versatile, component-based assembly system that functions like a toy building kit for adults. Rather than proposing a static building, the project introduces a standardized kit of parts composed of double-curved cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements. This system is divided into two primary sets of "bricks": the outer structural shell—which integrates curved CLT, thermal insulation, waterproofing, and exterior wood shingles—and the inner lining, containing compact furniture and facilities. Because the panels are standardized and interchangeable, elements like skylights can be easily swapped for solar panels or solid walls depending on specific environmental and energy needs.
This modular logic allows for endless scalability and easy adaptation. The baseline configuration (Module 1 - Basic Edition) compiles sleeping quarters, a compact kitchen, and a bathroom into a tightly orchestrated, organic layout. This base can be easily expanded, adjusted, or combined with upgraded units, such as Module 2, which introduces an elevated sauna, shower, and cloakroom. Circular outdoor terraces and winding timber staircases act as structural bridges, connecting different modules into customized clusters.
To inhabit the canopy with the lightest possible touch, the project offers unprecedented structural flexibility. The modules can be hung directly from sturdy branches using high-strength steel cables, supported from below by slender steel piles, or stabilized through a hybrid combination of both. This reversible engineering ensures the treehouses can adapt to any specific tree configuration or slope. True to the temporary nature of the brief, the entire system can be easily assembled, extended, relocated, or completely dismantled, leaving the surrounding forest completely undisturbed.
