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Building upwards—the treehouse is two stories tall—allowed the architect to keep the structure's footprint small, yet still hidden from view amongst the surrounding trees.

A skylight brings air and light into the bathroom. Because it is outfitted with amenities like plumbing, the tree house can also act as a self-contained dwelling.

The western wall of the treehouse is clad in metal to shade the structure from afternoon sun.

The experience is designed to be a total immersion with nature, a place of respite and wellbeing, silence and solitude. There is no cell service and no Wi-Fi -- and that is part of its appeal. “That gives it its serenity,” says Shenk. “You’re definitely by yourself out there.”

The wood-burning stove is wrapped in a heat shield for added protection while the venting system helps maintain adequate airflow.

Floating hammocks were woven into the dock's surface, giving guests another opportunity to relax and enjoy the setting.

The commissioned project was the first sauna and floating design of its kind for Aux Box, and it was not without its challenges.

The sauna is located approximately 30 minutes by boat from the resort, deep within the UNESCO-protected Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve.

Inside the sauna, cedar planks line the walls, along with the floors and ceiling surfaces.

Caterpillar floor plan

A look at the hangar-like interior during construction.

The orientation of the apartments allows residents to experience sunrise in the bedrooms and sunset in the living room.

The urban woodland, which includes a mix of arborvitaes, river birches, and hornbeams, will provide a layer of privacy.

“The tent-like shape resembles a mountain. When the snow falls, the triangle becomes embedded in the landscape,” Tham says.