Inside the most secluded tree house cabin, restraint defines the architecture. Set within the rugged landscape of regional Victoria, this compact retreat is carefully positioned in Sawmill Settlement at the base of Mount Buller. Designed by Robbie Walker for a close friend, the project responds to a simple brief: create something modest to share with friends and family – no larger than necessary yet built to endure.
The philosophy behind inside the most secluded tree house cabin begins with building only what is essential. The site, located at the head of a gully that channels stormwater from surrounding streets, presented an immediate environmental challenge. In response, the structure is elevated on columns, lifting it above potential flood levels while preserving the raw terrain that first drew its owner to the land. By touching the ground lightly, the design maintains the integrity of the bush setting.
Clad in steel, the exterior appears robust and protective – an intentional response to the bushfire-prone region. The steel operates as structure, screen and compliance measure in one cohesive system. A secondary layer of slatted steel wraps the watertight core, offset to allow airflow between skins. As sunlight hits the outer slats, heat is absorbed before reaching the insulated interior, supporting passive thermal control. Inside the most secluded tree house cabin, environmental performance is embedded within the architectural language.
There is a deliberate contrast between exterior and interior. From the outside, the cabin reads as almost austere against the bushland. Upon entry, however, warmth unfolds through the use of Australian hardwood lining the hallway. Movement is drawn toward a large north-facing window, where framed views anchor the experience in the landscape. This transition from steel shell to timber-lined refuge defines the emotional core of inside the most secluded tree house cabin.
Bushfire regulations informed inventive detailing throughout. Operable windows are required to incorporate fixed flyscreens, yet rather than interrupt the outlook with conventional vertical mesh, the design rotates the screen horizontally. This allows uninterrupted views while maintaining airflow and compliance. Services are concealed within the floor and stair structure, preserving a calm interior free from visual distraction. Even the roof is reconsidered, expressed as a plane of flat steel slats that challenge traditional cabin expectations.
Inside the most secluded tree house cabin, practicality is prioritised, yet never at the expense of considered form. Each decision – from elevation strategy to material selection – reinforces durability and longevity. The project demonstrates how thoughtful engineering and disciplined design can transform a small footprint into a place of genuine retreat.
In the vast Australian landscape, sensitivity to site is paramount. Inside the most secluded tree house cabin, architecture is reduced to shelter, outlook and connection – built simply, built carefully and designed to last.
00:00 – Introduction to The Most Secluded Tree House Cabin
01:04 – Small Family Focused Brief
01:44 – Material Palette and Building Composition
03:12 – Building for Safety
03:41 – Challenging Moments
04:14 – Learnings and Appreciations
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Photography by Tasha Tylee.
Design and furniture by Robbie Walker.
Engineering by Taylor Engineering + Design.
Filmed and edited by Good Grief Productions.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Victoria, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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