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Cliff House

The client’s spectacular private property with its ultra-modern and unusual house is located in the State of New York, two hours north of New York city and close to the Hudson River. The purpose of the first visit was to find a suitable place for the treehouse. There were many possibilities, so that no quick decision could be made. Extensive woodland and various clusters of trees were viewed, and their pros and cons considered. On the eastern side of the property, there was a steep rock face with a few trees. A spot with a magnificent maple afforded an excellent view of both the house and, further away, of the Hudson. The unique qualities of this location could hardly be beaten, and finally won the day. In line with the client’s wishes, the treehouse cabin had to offer enough space for the parents and their two children. The size made it necessary to support the closed construction independently from the tree, against the cliff. The loads are distributed across two short steel supports in the upper area and two v-shaped beams beneath the front part of the cabin. Rough-sawn larch planks with a coat of silver paint were used for the treehouse’s external boarding. This means that, depending on the light, the surface has a metallic effect, displaying a range of different colours.

The terrace is made of oak and is fastened to the maple with stainless steel cables and textile straps. To enter the treehouse, one starts at the edge of the cliff, where a narrow, low-gradient ramp leads to the terrace. The visitor can feel the steepness of the slope. The two main branches of the maple run almost exactly through the centre of the oak construction, and form the middle of the terrace. From there, a catwalk leads to the cabin, where one is immediately captivated by the breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.

The generous reclining area is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the distance and altitude. All of the interior surfaces are made of untreated oak and create a peaceful feel. Pull-out boxes and a wide sideboard offer storage space for books and toys. Some of the windows – which run around the entire cabin – are fixed panes of glass, while others can be opened. The skylight can also be opened, so that visitors can gaze into the tree-tops and, when the weather is fine, enjoy looking at the stars.

Trees: one maple
Height between 1 and 8 m
Bearing structure Terrace suspended in the maple tree by means of stainless steel cables and textile straps;
the treehouse’s weight rests on two short steel supports and two v-shaped beams
Interior area 9,4 qm
Terrace area 10,4 qm
Façade construction from inside to outside: oak boarding, tongue and groove, untreated; 19 mm OSB; 80 mm mineral insulation; membrane; 20 mm larch boarding, rough-sawn and painted silver