21.11.2019
Treehouse Hotel at Port Lympne
For this project, Bernerd worked closely with the Chairman of the Aspinall Foundation, Damian Aspinall, to interpret his vision for a treehouse retreat in Port Lympne, Kent.
Sited on a curving ridge and cantilevered into the tree canopy high above the Aspinall family’s 600- acre wild animal reserve, The Treehouse Hotel offers luxury that is both minimalist and chic. Each of the hotel’s ten self-catering suites is fronted by glass and has its own private balcony for the all-important act of viewing the animals.
For each of the suites, Bernerd and her partners created two double bedrooms, a bathroom, a sleek kitchen/diner, and a lounging area that is simple yet comfortable. Intended first and foremost as a get-away-from-it-all natural retreat, the hotel incorporates a muted palette of creams and greys that gives it a restful quality. The use of timber walls also helps to evoke an entirely appropriate cabin in the woods feel. Achieved within a relatively limited budget, Tara Bernerd and Partners created a stylish and contemporary place without needing to resort to the use of luxury finishes. Innovative details such as polished concrete tabletops and bespoke headboards enhance the space and make it the perfect treetop escape.