Western Red Cedar Cladding connects luxury treehouse accommodation with the woodland at Elmore Court
Luxury Treehouses at Elmore Wild (previously Rewild Things)
The Elmore Wild Treehouses at Elmore Court in Gloucestershire, is a collection of six luxury accommodation pods, tucked high in the trees within the estate’s protected woodland and rewilding landscape. Designed by Millar Howard Workshop, the treehouses are unique, secluded spaces, offering guests a fully immersive, nature-based stay.
A low impact design
A key principle of the project was to minimise disturbance to the existing woodland. As the main contractor, Greenheart Sustainable Construction worked with the design team to develop a lightweight approach to foundations and access.
Rather than using conventional concrete foundations, the treehouses and their connecting walkways are supported by 100mm steel screw piles. These were carefully positioned between existing tree roots, avoiding unnecessary excavation.
Timber in the Woodland
The material palette was deliberately restrained, allowing the buildings to sit quietly within their surroundings. We supplied Western Red Cedar Cladding as the principal external finish, complementing the woodland setting with this natural appearance and ability to wether gracefully over time. Corrugated steel roofing provides a durable, lightweight covering, while timber is used extensively throughout the buildings and external walkways.
The use of timber was central to the project’s low-carbon approach. Our Western Red Cedar Cladding is locally grown, then dried and cut to size at our sawmills in Wiltshire. This helped in reducing the reliance on more carbon-intensive materials while giving the cabins a warm, natural character that reflects their setting.
Connecting architecture and nature
The relationship between the treehouses and the surrounding landscape continues beyond the choice of materials. Elevated walkways lead visitors through the woodland before arriving at the individual cabins, creating a gradual transition from the existing landscape into the architecture.
The buildings are positioned to make the most of views across Elmore Court’s rewilding landscape and wetlands, while their raised construction helps to retain the character of the woodland floor. The result is accommodation that is experienced as part of the landscape rather than simply placed within it.
Nature at the Heart of the Design
The Rewildthings Treehouses demonstrate how carefully considered materials and construction methods can help architecture respond to a sensitive landscape. From screw-pile foundations to British Western Red Cedar cladding, the project places minimal intervention and the experience of nature at the centre of its design, creating a strong connection between the woodland, the timber and the finished treehouses.
PROJECT DETAILS
Timber
Cladding: British Western Red Cedar
Architect
Millar Howard Workshop
mhworkshop.co.uk
Main Contractor
Greenheart Sustainable Construction
greenheartuk.com
Photography
Rob Tarren
