Stories • Destinations
Above the Waterfalls
The Intuitive Story of
Sigma Treehouse
Words & Interview by The Punch
Photography by Sigma Treehouse
A thousand metres above sea level, in the cool highlands of Munduk, Sigma Treehouse sits above a valley of waterfalls with a 180-degree view that stretches across the Bali Sea to the volcanoes of Java. It is a single house of ironwood, teak and metal, and it is a world away from the buzz of the island's south. The living space is upstairs, with a sauna, a large bathtub and a gym and yoga area below. Five waterfalls are within walking distance, and fireflies drift through the jungle at night.
Named after the independent, self-sufficient wolf of the pack, Sigma began as a personal retreat, sketched on a piece of paper by founders who kept returning to Munduk and never wanted to leave. We spoke with them about building in the mountains, the luxury of silence, and the details guests only discover when they slow down.
What first drew you to build a treehouse property in Bali, and why this specific location?
We've spent Nyepi in Munduk four years in a row, and every time we left the area we felt inspired to one day build our own magic pocket here. To me, it's the ultimate Bali mountain escape, with waterfalls, amazing sunset views, iconic temples and fresh, cooler air, as the area sits 1,000 metres above sea level. The silence is extra loud here, which I find to be a luxury considering how buzzy the south of Bali can get.
What's the story behind the name 'Sigma', and the story of the space itself?
The inspiration for the name came to us from the wolf pack hierarchy. The alpha is the leader of the pack, and the sigma wolf is the one who is independent and self-sufficient. We felt that the name, and the energy of the word, perfectly represented the essence of the house we were aiming to build.
Walk us through the design and build process. What materials and craftspeople did you work with?
Essentially, we drew the space on a piece of paper, considering the size of the plot of land we'd been offered. I remember imagining the dimensions by drawing the lines in our garden at home and walking between them, trying to feel whether it would turn out harmonious. Once the lines and the main vision had taken shape, we shared the ideas with an architectural engineer and a designer, who took it further and proposed the right kinds of materials for the climate and the specifics of the land.
The materials are predominantly ironwood, teak and metal. Sigma has been built around the functionality of the space. The living area, with the bedroom, kitchen and bathrooms, is upstairs, while downstairs is dedicated to a sauna, a large bathtub and a functional gym and yoga space. Above all, the view is the hero: a 180-degree panorama overlooking the Munduk waterfall valley and the Bali Sea, with the volcanoes of Java as a backdrop.
What was the biggest challenge in constructing on this particular site?
This was our first project, so it was a learning curve. Munduk is quite remote, so delivering materials and being on site often enough during the project was a challenge, but we were blessed with a great project manager, which helped a lot. Munduk can also get quite wet during the rainy season, so things slowed down at times. All in all, with enough patience and adaptability, the whole process was very smooth and exciting.
How do you think about Sigma's place in the surrounding environment and community, and who is the house built for?
We are one single house, built mostly for our own use, so the impact is minimal to none. Community-wise, we pay tribute to our local team and treat them like family, which we find so important when doing pretty much anything in Bali. As for our guests, it is a place for couples and creative souls. A pocket to rejuvenate, recharge, connect with your essence and get inspired. You just need to show up, and the energy of the area and the house will do the rest.
What's a detail in the property that guests often miss but that means the most to you?
People are most taken by the view, but our guests usually stay a minimum of two nights, so they have enough time to explore every corner and all the main features. There is a nice collection of books to read, a projector for movie nights, and an outdoor fireplace with seating. There are also five waterfalls accessible on foot directly from the house, which we absolutely recommend visiting. If you go down in the afternoon, you might have them all to yourself, with no tourists around. One thing people might miss is the fireflies in the jungle and around the house at night. You have to be patient for them to show up, but when they do, it's magical.
Where do you see Sigma Treehouse in five years? More locations, deeper experiences, something else?
We've taken it organically and intuitively from the beginning, so we might follow the same path. Maybe we'll do more fun things in the area, maybe not. For now, we truly enjoy the house ourselves and are happy with the experience people have when staying with us. But whatever we get inspired to do in the future, it will always be with Munduk and its original essence in mind. The energy of this area is holy and has to remain as pure as possible.
If you had to describe Sigma Treehouse's soul in one sentence, what would it be?
The ultimate Bali mountain getaway.
Address: Munduk
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