I have to admit I am romantic about the treehouse. Just the idea of being comfortably suspended between branches is thrilling (and probably harks back to my childhood when I spent a great deal of time hiding out and reading in the canopy of an old tree). So I was delighted to see the new creation of Dustin Feider (fellow Wisconsinite and furniture maker), a beautiful and eco-friendly treehouse glowing like a Japanese lantern at the top of an incredibly tall ash tree. (Dustin uses a basket and an electric winch to hoist himself up.)
Modeled after Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome, the treehouse is made of an aluminum frame of connected triangles, covered with translucent panels of recycled polypropylene. Half of the panels open up to allow breezes to pass through. At sunset, Feider says, the “branches and leaves cast purple shadows that move across the panels, and the sun illuminates the interior in yellow. It’s quite psychedelic.”
Here's additional information on Feider's company, O2 Sustainability Treehouse, that provides more gorgeous photos and technical drawings. For you techies, here's an article from Popular Mechanics that explains some of the treehouse's remarkable design features. And stop by Feider's website to see the gallery of treehouses and order plans for your own treehouse. Click on the large image at the bottom of the webpage to see a flash presentation. 
Comments