An upscale re-imaginging of a child’s treehouse, Delta Escape is a beautifully designed retreat adjacent to an ecological reserve. Nestled in amongst the throngs of islands that make up Argentina’s famous waters of the Tigre delta, the house stands tall like a wooden fortress overlooking the river. With a hint of Le Courbousier’s spatial design the structure sits high up on solid stilts; a necessity for the floodplains. Only accessible by boat, a wooden walkaway meets the jetty, crossing tall grasses and the natural bulrushes and flowers that collect within the surrounding forest.
A vertical rectangular structure, built by an artisan from Buenos Aires, the building is constructed from both concrete and bricks, and the interior is encased in wood. Each door and window slides open and closed to form a box-like puzzle, with staircases turning up to an elevated wooden terrace. The steps also head down towards the arching slatted paths leading you to a bird-watching platform. Venturing even further afield you cross the continuing wetlands towards a swimming pool shared between the few residents of the area.
In keeping with it’s bountiful surroundings the conscientious design of the house complements the landscape. From certain angles, the structure appears almost transparent amongst the swaying reeds and spindly trees growing around it.
Solar panels provide the majority of the building’s energy needs and a huge central fire area takes the place of a plasma television, and the paneled wooden walls make the inside of the house as refreshing as outside.
Images © Helen Morgan