Hackberry Auto House

Hackberry Auto House

Another testament to the strength and perseverance of trees.

This is a Japanese hackberry tree, which sprouted from a seed dropped in a junkyard by a bird, and after 25 years, has managed to lift a car in the air.

Various other parts are arrayed around the trunk as branches of the tree grew through holes in old car doors, lifting those as well.

"Workers at the junkyard have built a small fence around the tree, and are protecting it as it continues to grow," says James of Japan Probe. (via boingboing)

Goats inTreehouses

Goats inTreehouses

In my usual web browsing today I found a piece about goats and treehouses. Turns out these animals love treehouses, towers, and any other structure they can climb to get up off the ground and survey their surroundings.

The first image is of an elevated goat pen. The goats at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, California enjoy using the treehouse to walk along planks and get above the visitors. Who's gawking now!

Second image is from David Johnson of Findlay, Ill. who built a 31-ft. tall, 7-ft. diameter goat tower for his tribe of 34 Saanen milk goats. "Goats are the most curious animals in the world" Johnson says, "so they use the tower a lot. They come and go, passing each other on the ramp as needed. . . People often ask if any goats ever fall off the tower, and I always tell them the answer is no because goats are very sure-footed. Once in a while we do get freezing rain, and then I use a portable torch to melt the ice from the steps." Link to interview.

Third image is from flickr user Desert Debz at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Its a pygmy goat lounging on an elevated platform that's part of a system of skyways.

And a parting pun: Hey, goats are kids, too. If we can have fun in treehouses, so can they.

Yellow Treehouse from New Zealand

Yellow Treehouse from New Zealand

Interesting marketing / sponsorship / restaurant / architectural collaboration going on in New Zealand.

This treehouse was a commissioned work by Yellow Pages as the set for a 'reality' TV advertisement.

Pacific Environments Architects was called upon to design an in-the-trees functioning restaurant in a Redwood tree (over 40m high and 1.7m diameter at the base) on a site north of Auckland.

According to the Pacific Environments Architects website the Architectural Concept was to builds an open, light, organic form in the trees:

The tree-house concept is reminiscent of childhood dreams and playtime, fairy stories of enchantment and imagination . It's inspired through many forms found in nature -the chrysalis/cocoon protecting the emerging butterfly/moth, perhaps an onion/garlic clove form hung out to dry. It is also seen as a lantern, a beacon at night that simply glows yet during the day it might be a semi camouflaged growth, or a tree fort that provides an outlook and that offers refuge.The plan form also has loose similarities to a sea shell with the open ends spiralling to the centre.

Details of the construction:

It sits almost 10m wide and over 12m high, with the split-level floor sitting 10m off the ground. Timber trusses form the main structure. The curved fins are glue-laminated pine, plantation poplar has been used for the slats and redwood milled from the site used in the walkway balustrading. Openings are formed for windows by leaving spaces between the slats/fins that keeps the overall form yet affords a variety of openness for the views and light and closes down toward the rear. To loosen the regularity of the elements, steel is wrapped arbitrarily around the pod. Tying this up at the top and base has a sense of greater connection with the tree.

It is designed to be weather resistant using acrylic sheeting fixed to the roof under the fins with vertical roll-down cafe-style blinds within. Lighting is an important architectural component enhancing and changing the mood, with discreet lighting within the walkway and up-lighting within the tree house.

The construction was completed in December 2008 and has since opened to the public as a restaurant. The combination marketing approach and tree house design has apparently paid off -- reservations are booked up and another restaurant company is set to take over to operate the yellow treehouse.

What a great collaboration of talent. For more images and media about this project visit the Yellowpages website: Yellow Treehouse Cafe.

One Big Tree

One Big Tree

From Flickr

Urban Treehouse Living with Shipping Containers

Urban Treehouse Living with Shipping Containers

For more on the 'treeless treehouse' theme, German designer Lars Behrendt has conceived of an incredible tower called the Lotto Turm.

The tower uses 55 shipping containers stacked up into the shape of an urban residential and office space treehouse.

The structure is designed to look as organic as possible with a spiral pathway that circles around the building and plant gardens that will accentuate the varied vertical landscape.

It is proposed to be located in the center of Stuttgart, Germany, in the centre of a roundabout called Oesterreichischer Platz which, for the last 40 years, has been used as a parking lot.

The shipping container design also creates a noise-free courtyard, relying on elevation and shape to dampen the nearby traffic sounds, and is intended as a low cost way to increase the usefulness of this underutilized paved space.

Article via designboom

Treehouse Related Injury Statistics

Treehouse Related Injury Statistics

Medical researchers in Ohio published statistics showing that in the US 2,800 children a year are hurt in treehouse related accidents. The injuries ranged from bruises to broken bones, but all were serious enough to send the children to the emergency room.

To put this statistic into perspective: Other research found treehouse injuries to be far less common than playground injuries, which account for about 200,000 emergency-room visits a year. And tie racks and clothes hangers sent about the same number of people (2,956) to the emergency room in 2007.

There are some simple techniques anyone can use to lessen the chance of treehouse injuries:

• Build the treehouse 10 feet or less from the ground
• Add several inches of soft mulch around the base of the treehouse as a cushion
  
• Use solid 38-inch-high barriers and guardrails
• Demonstrate the use of rope tie-ins and other safety techniques for tree climbing

And, one of the most important ways to minimize the chances of childhood injury -- whether in treehouse or anywhere else in life -- is to familiarize your kids with the idea of managing acceptable risk. This is a long-term approach to child raising with the goal of empowering kids to make informed decisions regarding their own safety and therefore be responsible for the consequences of their own actions.

Sometimes kids have to fail to learn that lesson. So, let them fall 8 feet onto soft bark mulch and get a bruise. Its a much better education than keeping them 'safely' indoors all day.

Article via Chicago Tribune

Takasugi-an: Tea Tree House

Takasugi-an: Tea Tree House

Takasugi-an, which means means "a tea house [built] too high" located in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (photos by Edmund Sumner via Dezeen Blog).

Takasugi-an was built by Terunobu Fujimori, a tea master, who has an interest in architecture and wished to push the limit and constraints of a traditional teahouse. I think it's a good example of a small yet beautiful design for the purpose of escape, meditation, and reflection -- a perfect setting for the Japanese tea ceremony.

The tea masters traditionally maintained total control over the construction of these "enclosures," whose simplicity was their main concern. They therefore preferred not to involve an architect or even a skilled carpenter - an act considered as being too ostentatious. Following this tradition, Fujimori decided to build a humble teahouse for himself, and by himself, over a patch of land that belonged to his family.

One of the interesting points is the method Fujimori used to support the tea tree house. Rather than build in existing live trees, he instead chose to harvest two Chestnut trees from a local mountain and install the trunks like irregular poles to support his creation.



The choice of non-living trees for support affords a few luxuries in the building process. For one, the builder can position the home anywhere that suits his desire rather than rely on nature's placement. Second, the trunks are static in the sense that they're dead wood like the rest of the building materials, and therefore, may be integrated directly with the house structure itself. Tying a living trunk into a plaster covered wall (picture on the right) is not possible due to the constant movement and growth of the living tree. But in Fujimori's design it works quite well.

Once inside the room, which is padded simply with plaster and bamboo mats, the architect's adventurous spirit gives way to the serenity more suited to the purpose of making tea and calming one's mind.

Ecocoon Treehouse Concept

Ecocoon Treehouse Concept

Ecocoons are an eco retreat variation on the treehouse by London based architect Mathieu Collos.

His design features a split level floorspace with different wall and floor orientations intended to optimize views and the interestness of the space. This also permits the use of full sized opening panels for terraced viewing and ventilation in the warmer months.

A single tree trunk is the foundation of the design, and is included as an interior element like a rough and rounded wall. The pentagonal structure of the cocoon is made from insulated panels with fiberglass or metal exteriors. Like in my previous post, this choice of materials can be lightweight and durable for a minimal impact on the tree.

The structure is hung with steel cables from branches above it, however no details on the precise mounting method. Another point of criticism I have is that the tree trunck looks to have a gasket around where it meets the roof. This is a no win design choice: It is impossible to make a seal between the trunck and a roof that stops the weather. The bark is an irregular soggy sponge that continuously expands over time, and if the seal bites into the bark deeply, the tree will die.

I like the concept and the design, but I'd situate it in two or more trees to make it more realistic year-round lodging option.

Reflective Skin Treehouse

Reflective Skin Treehouse

New computer generated images of the Harad's tree hotel designed by Sweden's Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter have been released.

The Harad's is an aluminum skinned cube set in a single tree. The choice of exterior materials makes sense: aluminium is light weight, weather resistant, and can be polished to a mirror shine.

This reflective characteristic of the skin makes it blend in with the environment much like a hunting blind. I would expect it will provide a great views of the local wildlife and stay cool in the hot summer months.

The plan calls for a small kitchen, terrace, living area and sleeping area. The bathroom will likely be located on the ground somewhere nearby -- a situation common for most treehouses.

My own impression is that there is a stark visual contrast between the pure abstract form of the silver cube with the surrounding forest. I'd be interested to see what lessons are learned from this prototype and if the idea can be applied to building treehouses with more organic curves and rounded shapes.

Linda Aldredge's Treehouse

Linda Aldredge's Treehouse

Linda Aldredge's built this awesome treehouse in Catskill near Woodstock, New York. Inhabitat.com interviewed Linda and posted the talk about her motivations for building this perfect get-away from life in the Big Apple.

How did you come upon the idea of building a treehouse? What was your inspiration?

The idea was actually my friend Su Barber's. Late one night, she and I got to talking about what I was going to do with my land and she suggested a treehouse. When she suggested a treehouse I'm pretty sure she meant a platform in the trees with a canvas tarp for a roof or something really simple. But I got all fired up about it and starting researching treehouses. The more I read the more inspired I was.

I was also really inspired by the Handmade Houses books published in the 70's. I like to think my group of friends upstate and in the city are having their own movement of DIY architecture and building. I am constantly inspired by my friends.

What were the requirements/ restraints of the plan?

Money was the biggest restraint, my original budget was $12k and for the most part we stuck to that. I splurged on little things like copper flashing but with a 100 sq ft house it didn't really add up. I was also trying to avoid any subcontracting of others -- no foundation, no septic, no well -- because I couldn't afford these things. The 'off the grid' aspect was something I was really excited by for obvious reasons but no one really ever talks about the fact that it's SO much cheaper (for a little house like mine).

This is a house I simply can't afford to keep up. I can't afford to heat it in winter, which most cabins have to be in upstate otherwise you'll have burst pipes, etc. I can't afford a mortgage. I can't afford water and septic costs. I can't afford property taxes. It had to be sustainable. Just the very nature of my life forces me to choose this option.

Read more of Linda Aldredge's Treehouse Interview at Inhabitat.com

Madison Square Tree Huts

Madison Square Tree Huts

New York's Madison Square Garden has taken on unique treehouse feel lately due to an art exhibition by Tadashi Kawamata called Madison Square Tree Huts.

The show is a gathering of small wooden houses up in the trees, and folks passing through the park gain the sense of wonderment that these small structures trigger and shake up our notion of urban space, rural romanticism, and play.

A common question levelled at the project is: "Will the Tree Huts harm the host trees?" The answer is no: Tadashi Kawamata has honed a few techniques that allow him to temporarily build in trees without damaging them.

The unique attachment system involves wrapping tree branches in a rubber sheath and using heavy-duty racheting straps to secure the lumber to the wrapped sections. This way, Tadashi protects the trees' sensitive bark and ensures that under no circumstances is the tree bark penetrated, scraped off or otherwise harmed.

Wilkinson Residence Models Treehouse Elegance

Wilkinson Residence Models Treehouse Elegance

Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect has designed a home called the 'Wilkinson Residence', after the owners, in Portland Oregon.

"Located on a flag lot and a fast sloping grade provided the opportunity to bring the main level of the house into the tree canopy to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house."

Its a nice example of how very high end architectural design can succeed by appealing to simple back-to-nature treehouse principles.

Berkeley Treehouse Protesters Hemmed In

Berkeley Treehouse Protesters Hemmed In

As previously posted, a long-running dispute continues between UC Berkeley and protesters over the proposed construction of an athletic training center on the location where a grove of old redwood trees currently stand.

Four protesters have been living in a treehouse perched in one of the redwood trees while their law suit to prevent the construction continues. Yesterday, arborists were brought in to cut branches on the redwood under the treehouse, and on trees next to it, in order to make it harder for the protesters to move around.

"There is still a court order in effect protecting those trees, so by cutting the branches they are in violation of the order," said a protester who gave her name as Dumpster Muffin. University spokesman Dan Mogulof responded that the court order barring the school from cutting down the trees to start construction did not apply to pruning for safety measures.

Arborists also tore down some tarps on the treehouse because they were worried the protesters could be hiding excrement that they might dump on workers on the ground. Police Chief Victoria Harrison rode in a cherry picker close to the redwood to explain to those living in the treehouse "that they would not be forcibly removed," Mogulof said.

Strathcona Treehouse

Strathcona Treehouse

Here is a photo from Flickr user SqueakyMarmot of a treehouse in Strathcona, a community in Vancouver BC Canada.

I used to walk past this house all the time when I stayed with my girlfriend nearby. I like that the treehouse is simple and the design matches the neighbouring house. It's a post supported treehouse with a rope net ladder on one side. It's hard to see in this daytime photo, but the owners also have Christmas lights strung up all around it and it looks great at night in the Winter months.

Sometimes a post-supported treehouse can run into trouble from city council bylaws because it touches the ground and is considered an 'accessory building'. However, bylaw investigation of a treehouse typically only happens if neighbours make a complaint; and complaints usually stem from it being an eye sore or if the height and position of the treehouse is seen to invade their privacy.

In this case, the treehouse is finished to match the local houses and it is very clean and well maintained. Also, it's low and positioned along the street side of the property fence not on the neighbour side. These two considerations make a huge difference to ensure your treehouse doesn't create a problem with local bylaws.

Besides, it's located in Strathcona which is a community that seems more open and relaxed about these kind of things.

Captain Hook's Treehouse

Captain Hook's Treehouse

Flickr user Dianadi65 and I have e-mailed about her awesome treehouse. There are some great photos on her flickr account and this one shows the Captian Hook railing reused from a community play. This attached message is her describing why they built the treehouse and I thought I'd repost it for other parents:

The inspiration to build a treehouse for our daughter came from the fantastic place to play she discovered down a path through the back yard. Our friends own the house we are in, but they said "go for it" if we wanted to create something down there, so that we have!

As for the why... I am a big supporter of "perfect childhoods," meaning the kind where kids can be kids and go off on their own adventures more regularly, without too much interference from the grownup world. These days I do not see much of this going on. We have become so busy and scheduled that kids have everything programmed in for them--and I think that is to their detriment as creative, independently functioning beings.

They also need to get their heads out of the cyber/electronic world and back OUTSIDE. Or at least a clubhouse or tent or something where they can, collectively, be experimental and messy. Garage? Basement? Nothing fancy--just try to get rid of the spiders, ha ha. We all remember our own childhoods. "Outside" was not a vague notion--it was a command from the boss. GO OUTSIDE! And off we went--somewhere-- until it was time to eat again.

I know neighborhoods aren't what they used to be and not everyone is fortunate enough to have an ideal location for something like a treehouse. Maybe not even a tree! But--for the sake of the kids, I urge people to put on their thinking caps and come up with ways to give them back some of their independence. Not wonton lawlessness or anything like that. Watch old episodes of "Our Gang" and "The Little Rascals." I think one of the challenges of our time is to re-create a Golden Age of Childhood that figures in ways to let them roam a bit. It is time to give equal weight to safety AND freedom.

I hope as my 2 cents worth it goes in the hopper here and there and gets a wheel turning. I am curious where people's heads are at on this.

--DD

Garden Treehouse Take Down

Garden Treehouse Take Down

Another example of a residential dispute in Harrow UK over a treehouse that results in a take down order.

"Councillor Marilyn Ashton said Harrow would not allow large structures to be built in people's back gardens without approval. Everyone remembers treehouses from their childhood but a treehouse earns that name by being in a tree - you can't build a large shed on stilts next to a tree and call it a treehouse."

The councillor's comments are worth reviewing:

First, council got involved only because the neighbour complained that the elevated treehouse invaded their privacy and was unsightly to their view. Take note: if you're planning to build a treehouse check with your neighbours if they'll be able to see it, or if you'll be able to peer into their lives. If they're okay with the idea you'll probably not have any problems with local bylaws.

Second, the council was able to order the take down because the treehouse fell under the jurisdiction of their bylaws: "Garden buildings require planning permission if they are more than four metres tall or cover more than half the garden." This situation would have been different if the treehouse was not a garden building -- in other words, if it wasn't built on stilts.

My advice for people thinking of building a treehouse in an urban or suburban setting is to build entirely in the tree with no part of the structure touching the ground. This way, the treehouse cannot be classified as a garden structure and therefore does not fall under the same jurisdiction or bylaws.

Even if you build entirely in a tree, there are still some limitations on the size, by square footage, that can reasonably define a treehouse depending on the area you live. However, by talking with your neighbours first and perching the structure in a tree you can avoid most of the red tape and problems that come from these kind of disputes.

Residential Vortex House

Residential Vortex House

I found this on BoredStop.com of a remarkable sculpture made from recycled wood (possibly from the house itself) to create a vortex funnel from the front, right through the house, and out the back fence.

I wonder if it was artistic brilliance or if it was intended to serve as a giant megaphone to shout at the neighbours?

Pete Nelson's Bid to Sway Council and Save His Treehouse

Pete Nelson's Bid to Sway Council and Save His Treehouse

Pete Nelson, founder of the Treehouse Workshop, has built his own treehouse hideaway with plans to become a bed and breakfast. However, this article in the Seattle Times describes how a builder's vision can conflict with the local County Council.

Below is a paraphrased version of the story:

"The County Council [Washington State, USA] amended the law last year so building permits are no longer required for treehouses no larger than 200 square feet (or about 14 feet by 14 feet) 'used for play and similar uses.' "

"At 256 square feet, however, the Temple of the Blue Moon is big enough to require a permit. It's also in a no-build river buffer and 'channel migration area' where officials believe the river could carve a new bed. "

"Nelson admits the treehouse isn't legal because it's within 165 feet of the river, but he thinks the law should be changed to allow treehouses as an environmentally benign, low-impact use. "

"[And] his own survey shows it's outside the channel migration area. (He estimates the tree it's built on is more than 300 years old.)"

"Nelson's situation has some Metropolitan King County Council members wondering if they should make treehouses legal in 'critical areas' such as river buffers and steep hillsides where all construction is now banned. Their decision could help define the vague legal status of a new generation of luxury perches built by adults for adults."

1,500 Year-Old Angel Oak Tree

1,500 Year-Old Angel Oak Tree

This is a photo of the Angel Oak tree in South Carolina. According to the Angel Oak tree historical website:

Reportedly the oldest thing -- living or man-made -- east of the Rockies, Angel Oak is a live oak tree aged approximately 1,500 years. Some locals simply call it The Tree. It stands in a wooded area along Bohicket Road of John's Island outside Charleston, South Carolina.


Today the live oak has a diameter of spread reaching 160 feet, a circumference of nearly 25 feet, and casts 17,100 square feet of shade on the ground.

Its an amazing specimin, and you'll likely be happy to know there is no fee to see it in person and no tee-shirt shacks or other tourist venders around.

And on that note, here are some good tree care tips to help keep your own arboural friends healthy and long lived.

Beauty Scenes of Nicaraguan Trees

Beauty Scenes of Nicaraguan Trees

My Friend Stan recently returned from the jungles of Nicaragua.

He has a Flickr photo set of his trip and these three caught my fancy.

I'm amazed by the scenic locations, the dense jungles, and the size of the trees -- My mind spins into thoughts of structures I could build!

Its no coincidence that there also happen to be numerous treehouse lodges and eco-resorts in Nicaragua.

Interestingly, they also have a lot of bamboo groves which is an excellent building material for tree houses due to its strength and light weight.

Looks like a beautiful place for a vacation.