Bali-based Stilt Studios Makes Treehouses More Luxe, and Sustainable

Stilt Studios, a prefab architecture company based in Bali, Indonesia, hopes to lighten the impact of local development while simultaneously making sustainable, luxury architecture more accessible with their prefab treehouses and plans.

The company was founded in 2019 by entrepreneur Florian Holm and German-born, Bali-based architectural designer Alexis Dorneir after the two met designing Holm’s new home on the island.

Prompted by a shared desire to make high-end architecture affordable for more people, and to tackle several issues pertinent to Indonesia’s development and tourism industry, Stilt Studios turned to prefab, elevated structures as a solution.

According to the studio, Bali’s buildings are often constructed and demolished quickly due to short-term leases on sites. While many developments in Bali use high quantities of concrete, which severly degrades the natural habitat, Stilt's goal in developing remote areas-with the intent to boost local economy-is to design structures that can be assembled (and disassembled) quickly without complex skillsets or damage to their site.

Stilt’s models aim to combat these issues by building their prefab models offsite. Additionally, most models are elevated, requiring little change to the ground below, feature large roof overhangs to protect from the heat, recycle water with rainwater harvesting systems, cool passively using cross-ventilation, and use solar panels to remain off-grid. While the company currently uses steel-framing, they’re working on replacing steel components with the popular CLT.

Currently, three drawing sets are available for purchase worldwide-Treehouse A, B, and C- with plans starting at $7,500, with four more models to come. The company also offers additional services like construction supervision, an interior and furniture package and site development if you'd rather them handle the build.

It should be noted, land ownership and development in Bali is fraught with the familiar disrespect towards local land and populations found globally-hopefully models like that of Stilt Studios offer possible solutions to creating an “eco-tourism” industry that is as good to its guests and economy as it is to its native habitat and people.

LEARN MORE