Treehouse by Suzanne Hunt Architect is a 300-square-meter residence completed in 2022 in Margaret River, carefully designed to sit lightly within a dense native bushland setting. Built on a steep, tree-filled site with bushfire constraints and limited services, the home responds to its environment through fire-resistant materials, passive design strategies, and off-grid systems including rainwater harvesting and solar power. Organized along an east–west axis, the layout separates private bedroom wings from a central living hub that opens to outdoor decks and courtyards, creating a strong connection between interior spaces and the surrounding forest canopy.
Architects: Suzanne Hunt Architect Area: 300 m² Year: 2022 Photographs: Dion Robeson Principal Architect: Suzie Hunt Senior Associate: Catherine Lee City: Margaret River Country: Australia
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When you first approach Treehouse by Suzanne Hunt Architect, what strikes you isn't just a house,
it's how seamlessly it sits among the tall Jarrah, Kerry, and Mare trees of the Margaret River
bushland in Western Australia. Built on a steep, tree-filled site about three hours south of Perth,
this 300 square meter home was designed with both context and constraints in mind.
The architects worked through a challenging bushfire assessment level and limitations like
lack of mains water and limited power, all while preserving the ancient topography and
existing forests that define the property's character. The exterior of the house quietly
reflects its surroundings. Clad in fire-resistant spotted gum timber with vertically routed weather
boards, the facade mirrors the varying trunks around it, and the tall, narrow aluminum-framed
windows echo that rhythm too. Corten steel panels mark the entry, and a blue-scope color-bond roof
carries a rugged yet refined look. A local Margaret River stone fireplace and chimney
become a tactile focal point that grounds the home in its landscape.
Stepping inside, the layout reveals how thoughtfully it's organized for everyday
living and entertaining. Oriented along an east-west axis, the plan splits into two
bedroom wings with a central living hub between them. The private wing rises gently into the
canopy, offering a main suite with an ensuite and a floating outdoor deck shower that brings you
closer to the tree canopy views. The central living space opens up to generous outdoor decks
and entertaining courtyards, blurring the line between interior comfort and the wild beauty outside.
What makes Treehouse truly compelling isn't just the architecture. It's how the home supports the
Designed for aging in place and off-grid capability, it incorporates a 90,000 liter
rainwater tank, on-site sewage treatment, 12 kilowatts of solar power with battery storage,
and passive ventilation that works with climate and orientation. Landscaped with over 2,000 native
species and featuring a productive vegetable garden, it embodies a thoughtful blend of design,
sustainability, and connection to land.
