diff --git a/spinoffs/inference_gym/inference_gym/targets/gaussian_binary_tree.py b/spinoffs/inference_gym/inference_gym/targets/gaussian_binary_tree.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7a836020fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinoffs/inference_gym/inference_gym/targets/gaussian_binary_tree.py
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import functools
+
+import tensorflow.compat.v2 as tf
+from inference_gym.targets import bayesian_model
+from inference_gym.targets import model
+
+import tensorflow_probability as tfp
+
+tfb = tfp.bijectors
+tfd = tfp.distributions
+
+Root = tfd.JointDistributionCoroutine.Root
+
+
+# coupling link could be e.g. tf.nn.tanh
+def gaussian_binary_tree_prior_fn(num_layers, initial_scale, nodes_scale,
+                                  coupling_link=None):
+  initial_loc = 0.
+  # in the "root" layer (or inverse root, as it is a reversed tree) we have
+  # 2**(num_layers-1) nodes (with depth 2 --> 2 nodes, depth 4 --> 8 nodes)
+
+  nodes = yield Root(
+    tfd.Sample(tfd.Normal(initial_loc, initial_scale), 2 ** (num_layers - 1),
+               name=f'layer_{num_layers - 1}'))
+  # for the remaining layers, we then sample the respective nodes values
+  # applying the link function
+  # we do not do this for the final node, as it is supposed to be observed
+  for l in range(num_layers, 1, -1):
+    if coupling_link:
+      nodes = yield tfd.Independent(tfd.Normal(tf.stack(
+        [coupling_link(nodes[..., i]) - coupling_link(nodes[..., i + 1]) for i
+         in range(0, 2 ** l, 2)],
+        -1),
+        nodes_scale), 1, name=f'layer_{l - 1}')
+    else:
+      nodes = yield tfd.Independent(tfd.Normal(tf.stack(
+        [nodes[..., i] - nodes[..., i + 1] for i in range(0, 2 ** l, 2)], -1),
+        nodes_scale), 1, name=f'layer_{l - 1}')
+
+
+def gaussian_binary_tree_log_likelihood_fn(values, observed_last_node,
+                                           nodes_scale, coupling_link=None):
+  left_node, right_node = values[-2], values[-1]
+  if coupling_link:
+    lps = tfd.Normal(loc=coupling_link(left_node) - coupling_link(right_node),
+                     scale=nodes_scale).log_prob(observed_last_node)
+  else:
+    lps = tfd.Normal(loc=left_node - right_node,
+                     scale=nodes_scale).log_prob(observed_last_node)
+  return lps
+
+
+class GaussianBinaryTree(bayesian_model.BayesianModel):
+  def __init__(self,
+               num_layers,
+               observed_last_node,
+               initial_scale,
+               nodes_scale,
+               coupling_link=None,
+               name='gaussian_binary_tree',
+               pretty_name='Gaussian Binary Tree'):
+    """Construct the Gaussian Binary Tree model."""
+    with tf.name_scope(name):
+      self._prior_dist = tfd.JointDistributionCoroutine(functools.partial(
+        gaussian_binary_tree_prior_fn,
+        num_layers=num_layers,
+        initial_scale=initial_scale,
+        nodes_scale=nodes_scale,
+        coupling_link=coupling_link
+      ))
+
+      self._log_likelihood_fn = functools.partial(
+        gaussian_binary_tree_log_likelihood_fn,
+        observed_last_node=observed_last_node,
+        nodes_scale=nodes_scale,
+        coupling_link=coupling_link
+      )
+
+      # todo: what should I use here?
+      sample_transformations = {
+        'identity':
+          model.Model.SampleTransformation(
+            fn=lambda params: params,
+            pretty_name='Identity',
+            dtype=self._prior_dist.dtype,
+          )
+      }
+
+    super(GaussianBinaryTree, self).__init__(
+      default_event_space_bijector=tfb.Identity(),
+      # todo: what should I use here?
+      event_shape=self._prior_dist.event_shape,
+      dtype=self._prior_dist.dtype,
+      name=name,
+      pretty_name=pretty_name,
+      sample_transformations=sample_transformations
+    )
+
+  def _prior_distribution(self):
+    return self._prior_dist
+
+  def _log_likelihood(self, value):
+    return self._log_likelihood_fn(value)
diff --git a/spinoffs/inference_gym/inference_gym/targets/gaussian_binary_tree_test.py b/spinoffs/inference_gym/inference_gym/targets/gaussian_binary_tree_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2