October/November 2021

GLAMPSITES
Building
Treehouses
Treehouse designer Kate Morel explains the process
behind the commission and build of a bespoke treehouse
WELL, WHERE did that year go, and ‘hello’,
I must say it’s great to be back writing for
Open Air Business once again! In this article
we’re going to go through the bespoke
treehouse process which is a little tricky
to be fair as every project presents its
own challenges and requirements. Some
of the steps I cover can run concurrently
and one or two can happen in a different
order. Unfortunately, I can’t cover every
eventuality here so, as always, do feel free
to get in touch if you need clarification on
any points.
In essence, there are two routes one
can take when creating a treehouse
development. One is to find an experienced
designer or architect to create the treehouse
design itself, and then find a construction
contractor to build it (some architects might
be able to recommend an experienced
construction company, too). Another
route would be to approach a company
that specialises in the design and build of
treehouses; this keeps the whole process
under one roof, and for me at least, allows
for direct and continued communication
between design and construction. I’m
finding this to be preferable as it controls
architectural design which is especially
important at the moment due to
unpredictable build costs.
If you don’t have the time, resources or
experience to deal with or manage such a
project, a design and build company might
be the best route. After all, these are, in
essence, timber frame houses, a few meters
up in the air, amidst mature trees in off-grid,
inaccessible and ecologically protected
locations.
At this stage, either way, we’re all fact
finding to establish if there’s a good fit
between what you, the client, wants, and
what we, the supplier can deliver. There are
two things I would check during our initial
discussion – firstly, the location of the build
so we can evaluate planning viability, and
secondly the proposed project budget. It’s
worth bearing in mind that some design
and build companies have a minimum
build value to which they can work, and it’s
often underestimated how much treehouse
developments cost and what’s involved,
so the budget is something we need to
establish straight away.
I’d also want to know what your overall
goals are for the project and the business
– does it need to replace a salary or two,
diversify your accommodation mix, attract
new customers, increase your business
profile, fulfil a specific need such as a
wedding suite, or generate X amount of
additional revenue for your core business?
I’d also want to know if you have any
design ideas, because at this stage I’m
already thinking ahead about the story, the
guest experience, and how we could craft
something that works for your business
model as well as being unique in the
marketplace.
On the other hand, as the client you will
want to know:
› What the design/build fees are and an
outline of the process/schedule
› What can realistically be produced for your
budget
› Return – what treehouse rental experience
does your designer have because it’s this
knowledge that will add revenue value to
the development
› Does the builder use experienced
treehouse joiners? These builds can pose
their own specific challenges and not
every construction company is aware, or
capable, of dealing with them
› Finally, if you have a particular design
requirement, does the designer empathise
with it? Creative people have their own
style and you want your designer to
naturally tune in to your ideas, vision or
brand identity.
Morel & Co project,
The Hudnalls Hideout
treehouse, Gloucestershire
46 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM