Construction
| Project | Forest Nests Treepod Project |
| Architects | Doarchiwow |
| Builder | Miao Jianbo, Chen Tong |
| Engineering | Yao Yifang, Chen Yong, Guo Nanxing, He Xumeng, Sun Cui, Fan Gong |
| Area | 442 m² (4,757 ft²) |
| Interior | Dean Ma |
| Client | Senbo Tourism |
| Photography | Liang Shan, Wu Wei |
| Location | Rizhao, Shandong / Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Year | 2025 |
Doarchiwow’s Forest Nests Treepod Project proposes a new model for modular, ecological living—part experimental resort, part blueprint for low-impact, near-zero-carbon construction. The concept reframes the classic treehouse as a vertically organized, nature-embedded community capable of adapting to a wide range of environments, including coastal sites and urban forests across China, from Rizhao to Wuhan.
Its architectural language borrows from bird nests, cocoons, and other biologically driven forms, translating those references into a modular system built around fluid, organic geometries. Each pod is shaped by a steel frame and finished in a tactile mix of wood shingles, weathering steel, aluminum, and glass—materials chosen not only for durability but for the way they allow the prefab volumes to settle visually into their surroundings as though they had naturally emerged from the landscape.
Advanced digital fabrication and parametric modeling make these curving, sculptural structures possible. As a new spin-off of DO Architects, Doarchiwow focuses on refined prefabrication systems and rejects the typical blocky aesthetic associated with modular buildings. Instead, the pods’ softened contours blur with forest canopies or shoreline vegetation, giving each unit the presence of a living organism woven into its setting.
A sweeping 270-degree floor-to-ceiling window anchors the interior experience, carving out expansive views and saturating the compact spaces with daylight. All mechanical and service components are concealed within the structural envelope, keeping the exterior silhouette uninterrupted. Inside, each pod operates as a micro-living habitat, supported by smart-home technologies and an integrated digital infrastructure.
Forest Nests is also a vehicle for the studio’s broader environmental ambitions, moving beyond “eco-friendly” gestures toward genuinely low-carbon building. The strategy combines passive design principles, active environmental systems, and construction methods responsive to local microclimates. Lightweight prefabrication helps limit site disturbance and material waste, while modular assembly curbs on-site labor and energy use. As semi-autonomous units, the pods can fine-tune their performance to a range of climates—from shaded urban green belts to ecologically sensitive reserves.
For Doarchiwow, the project represents a shift in how both construction and travel experiences might evolve. By merging digital design, advanced fabrication, and ecological thinking, the studio is developing immersive environments for boutique resorts, campsites, and rural destinations—spaces where technology and nature can coexist with a lighter footprint and a richer sense of place.
Nestled within China’s Senbo Amusement Parks, a new architectural vision is taking root. The Forest Nests Treepod Project by Doarchiwow transforms modular construction into an expressive art form, one that seems to grow organically from its surroundings. These are no ordinary treehouses. Each dwelling emerges like a sculptural organism, its steel frame enveloped in wood shingles, weathering steel, aluminum, and glass.
The magic of Forest Nests lies in how these materials interact, producing structures that feel cultivated rather than built. They resemble oversized cocoons suspended in space or nests spun by some mythical being. These pods deliberately defy the conventional modular aesthetic. Doarchiwow, a specialized subsidiary of DO Architects focusing on refined prefabricated systems, spent years refining this concept. Design began in 2021, culminating in the 441.92-square-meter project, completed in 2025 across Rizhao, Shandong, and Wuhan, Hubei.
Inside, the experience shifts seamlessly. Smart home technologies and integrated digital networks manage technical systems, while sweeping floor-to-ceiling glass frames the canopy and sky beyond. Interior curves echo the organic lines of the exterior, creating a surprising sense of spaciousness within each micro-living pod. The challenge Doarchiwow addressed was clear: how to mass-produce a unit that still feels custom. By standardizing the structural shell, construction is efficient, yet the interiors feel tailored and intimate. Each pod functions as a private retreat while remaining connected to the broader Treepod network.
Sustainability is more than a design statement—it’s built into the very DNA of the project. Led by Tang Jiajia, Wang Wenrui, and Jiang Hong, the team implemented a three-pronged environmental strategy: passive design, active environmental technologies, and microclimate-responsive construction methods. Prefabrication reduces site disturbance and minimizes material waste, while modular assembly lowers labor demands and energy use. Each pod operates as a semi-autonomous environmental system, capable of adapting to diverse climates and conditions.
This adaptability is central to Forest Nests’ potential. The design can be deployed in urban green corridors, protected natural reserves, coastal stretches, or forested mountains without appearing intrusive. Unlike conventional prefab buildings, which often impose themselves on the landscape, these pods integrate quietly, their fluid forms harmonizing with their surroundings. It’s a repeatable model that balances efficiency with aesthetic subtlety.
Doarchiwow’s vision extends beyond architecture to a reimagining of vacationing and construction practices alike. Targeting boutique resorts, high-end campsites, and rural tourism destinations, Forest Nests demonstrates that prefabrication need not compromise design or environmental responsibility. Here, efficiency meets elegance, speed meets sensitivity, and sustainable development doesn’t come at the expense of beauty. Whether this approach will become a global benchmark for eco-conscious resort design is yet to be seen, but it certainly points toward a compelling future for modular architecture.
