Kloof House by Platform Architects
In the coastal town of Betty’s Bay, a modern treehouse offers escape, inspiring magic and wonder in the young and the young at heart. Perched on stilts and slightly hidden by the indigenous Overberg flora, the home offers a unique vantage point of the landscape below, merging sustainable design with breathtaking luxury.
“In a world where the built environment often comes at the expense of nature, this treehouse inspired home offers a different path — one of sustainable design, a celebration of nature, and a story of collaboration.”
The project began with a simple desire: to be closer to family. The client, drawn to the charms of Betty’s Bay, purchased 2913 m2 of vacant plot on Kloof Road, adjacent to the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens. With a vision of environmental sensitivity and a nod to artistic legacy — the client’s uncle is a prolific local ceramicist — the landscape was laid for something truly special.
A sloping solution
Platform Architects, led by owner and principal architect David Talbot, embraced the client’s vision, crafting a design philosophy centred on a ‘modern treehouse’. The key challenge, however, was the site itself. Rectangular in shape, the site sloped steeply down from the road to a forest floor with tree canopies above, and a dry riverbed meandering through its middle, linked to a watercourse from the converging valleys. Densely populated with Boekenhout trees, the site demanded a sensitive approach.
Instead of bulldozing, the team saw an opportunity to take a different route. An elevated, curvilinear structure was designed to weave around the existing trees, minimising disruption. What began as a challenge resulted in an opportunity for innovation and preservation of the site’s vegetation.
Planning for preservation
Creating a home among the trees required meticulous planning. To achieve this, Platform Architects built a physical working model of the site and used 3D CAD visuals for design proposals at various stages of the project. Given the building’s ‘floating’ nature, height, scale, and design around existing trees, the building position was pegged in place and heights were marked along its length. ‘This gave us and the clients further comfort that no trees were impacted, and a real-time feel for the building’s scale and form,’ explains David.
A room with a view
The home’s serpentine form weaves gracefully between the tree canopies, the elevation allowing the natural landscape to flourish beneath. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer the client a panoramic view of the majestic Kogelberg mountain range, removing the separation between indoors and outdoors. The design ensures that all five bedrooms and the communal living areas are situated on a single level, connected by a glass-enclosed corridor. The floating bridge and entrance which link to off-street parking create a sense of anticipation as the building emerges from behind the treetops.
Creative repurposing
The main timber structure is supported by a steel frame with concrete free steel pile foundations. The piles are hand-driven and capped with a steel plate pile cap, ensuring that no concrete was used in the ground or brought onto the site. With sustainability forming the cornerstone of this project, cross-laminated timber was sourced from local, responsibly managed forests. Relatively new to South Africa, this eco-friendly material not only boasts impressive environmental credentials but also led to creative solutions in lighting design. Rather than using traditional downlights, which would have required exposed piping, David opted for a more intentional approach. Strategically placed lamps and perimeter LED strip lighting create a warm, inviting ambience that can be easily adjusted as interior arrangements change.
A treehouse’s testament
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this project was the client’s decision to take charge of the build themselves. This hands-on approach encouraged a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship involved. ‘By being part of the process, they really got to understand how building is a handmade craft and how intricate a process it is, if you are to do it properly,’ David notes.
This respect for artisanal work influenced the selection of furnishings, with a focus on locally handmade products. From James Mudge chairs and tables to custom-made couches by Nest Homes, each element helps bring this treehouse dream to life.
In a world where the built environment often comes at the expense of nature, this treehouse-inspired home offers a different path — one of sustainable design, a celebration of nature, and a story of collaboration. It’s a space where the magic of childhood imagination blends with the luxury of modern living, all while leaving a gentle footprint on the earth.
Images courtesy of Vignette Agency
This article is an extract from our August Issue. Read the full issue here.
