pure mastery

South African studio Malan Voster designed the Paarman Tree House, a cozy retreat in Cape Town that resembles a tree house, which offers views among the trees.  The architects have been involved with previous projects on this tree-rich property, and were commissioned to design a small contemporary house to compliment the existing collection of buildings organised around a modern interpretation of the Cape Werf.

The Paarman Tree House is located in a small clearing amongst forest-like gardens, and respond similarly to the vertical surrounding trees in order to maximise views from the highest portion of the site.

Inspiration was drawn from the timber cabins of Horace Gifford and Kengo Kuma’s notions of working with the void or in-between space, while Louis Kahn’s mastery of pure form and the detailing ethic of Carlo Scarpa informed a process of geometric restraint and handcrafted manufacturing.

The organisation of the structure explores the pure geometry of a square, with each side divided into three modules and where two of these modules determine the diameter of a circle on each of the four sides of the square – resulting in a pin-wheel plan layout. All materials are left untreated, and will express the passing of time as they weather naturally with the surrounding trees.