03 Mar 2020
Fox Browne Creative's treehouse retreat lets guests sleep under the stars
BY Stu Robarts
Fox Browne Creative have created a treehouse-like overnight retreat for the &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve in South Africa that will give guests the chance to sleep under the stars in the Kruger National Park.
The Ngala Tree House is to be offered in addition to two existing lodges that &Beyond has at the reserve and can accommodate up to two adults and two children aged between 10 and 16.
Covering an area of less than 25sq m (270sq ft) and rising to a height of 12m (40ft), the entire structure was prefabricated off-site and was designed to have minimal impact on the site, with a very small foundation on the ground.
It comprises five levels joined together by a staircase that runs around its outside.
On the ground floor there is a personal bar and kitchenette, the mezzanine level features a "loo with a view" and, on the level above that, there is an indoor-outdoor shower and vanity.
There is a fully glazed bedroom on the third floor with a pull-out bed for children, which is one of the two sleeping areas. The rooftop level features a viewing deck and the second sleeping area – a sleep-out platform with a retractable awning.
The Ngala Tree House is constructed mainly from wood and metal framework. It features a number of technologies to allow it to operate off-grid, including six solar panels with a lithium-ion battery system, a greywater collection system and an on-site sanitation system.
Chris Browne, creative director and co-owner of Fox Browne Creative, said: "The interiors are designed to be minimal, and celebrate the simplicity and serenity of this natural location. Each level has been appointed to provide just what the guest might need, with the top deck being the hero of the experience.
"Natural textures, soft greens were chosen to work amidst the foliage of the trees. A simple mosquito net adds romance to the enclosed bedroom level, copper accents bring a touch of glamour to raw-edged wooden vanity on the bathroom level."
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