Case Study:
The Woodsman’s Treehouse
Main Contractor
Guy Mallinson
Project Type
Self-build
Project Value
£150,000
The Project
Completed in 2016, The Woodsman’s Treehouse is a unique property set high up in the branches of a 200-year-old oak tree in Dorset.
This high spec woodland retreat was awarded the RIBA SW award and named RIBA SW ‘Small Project of the Year’ as well as being shortlisted for The Wood Awards, The Blueprint Awards and the Grand Designs/RIBA House of the Year.
The fantastic property is six metres tall and sits 30 feet up in the trees. The luxurious self-catering accommodation boasts a circular, open plan living area with a rotating wood burner, high spec kitchen and roll top bath. Outside, there is a picnic area complete with wood fired pizza oven and barbeque, outdoor tree shower and a spiral staircase up to the top floor, where there is a hot tub and sauna.
The treehouse has two levels which are accessed by a wooden rope bridge and which can be exited via a stainless steel slide, for those wanting to bring out their inner child!
The structure supporting the building is fitted into the ground with metal screw piles which go five metres into the ground and the build is completely sustainable. The structure doesn’t touch the veteran oak tree at all, so rainwater can run down the stems and wildlife can travel up and down in the normal way, maintaining the delicate ecosystem of the tree.
The treehouse also appeared on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, which you can watch here.
The Problem
Guy Mallinson, master craftsman and builder of The Woodsman’s Treehouse, needed high performing insulation for the walls of the treehouse in order to keep guests warm year-round.
Due to the already compact area he was building the treehouse in, Guy didn’t want to compromise on space when it came to the thickness of the walls. He needed space saving insulation that still maintained the performance levels of traditional insulation, in order to make sure the heat produced from the wood burner didn’t escape from the building.
How We Helped
SuperFOIL provided the project with our SF60 multifoil insulation, which is the world’s highest performing multifoil. The insulation is just 100mm thick, so was the perfect solution to ensure space wasn’t compromised, whilst still offering high thermal performance.
The insulation has a 3-in-1 design which consists of three layers- insulation, vapour control and radiant barrier. What this meant was that the treehouse would be protected from condensation whilst still maintaining the right temperature, whatever the season.
Offering excellent value for money, SF60 is ideal for both new build or retrofit projects and is certified by BBA and LABC, ensuring it meets the needs of building regulations.
The insulation is also made from 40% recycled materials and is fully recyclable at the end of its 50+ year lifespan, so contributed to the sustainability of the project.
Managing Director of SuperFOIL Insulation, William Bown, said:
“It was a pleasure to contribute to the success of this ambitious and spectacular project- The Woodsman’s Treehouse is just an amazing build.
“By completing this project, Guy Mallinson was fulfilling a childhood dream so we wanted to do everything we could to help it reach completion as soon as possible.
“We’re very pleased to have been able to provide insulation which met his expectations- the product was easily applied and its narrow thickness and outstanding thermal performance meant it was perfect for this project.”
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