Jay Nelson’s latest treehouse, now under construction in a redwood grove in Northern California. It’s about 10 by 11 feet in floor area. The round window pivots open on center pins. There are two climbing ropes attached high up so Jay and Max can work on the curved roof. Almost all the wood (except for floor framing and plywood sheathing) is used.
Deek designed this 23’ tall “robot tree house” on his land in Vermont.
This wheelchair-accessible treehouse for students at the Yestermorrow Design-Build School in the Green Mountains, Vermont was designed by John Connell.
The structure of the tree house is a two-story wooden yurt with the roof supported by a web of small branches and spiraling cedar boards. The walls are cedar and hand-plastered, tinted, gypsum over drywall.
“The treehouse was designed as a collaborative effort between Green Line Architects’ principal, Stephen A. Novy, AIA, and David of David Rasmussen Design.” (p. 150)
This is the upper of two treehouses, connected to the lower one by a swaying catwalk. I slept up here one night. Check out @fosterhunting on Instagram.
There is something about the idea of a treehouse that truly captures the imagination. For builders, it’s a licence to let their creativity run wild and construct something which is playful and adventurous. For years now the team at Nelson Treehouse and Supply (better known as the Treehouse Masters from their hit TV show) have been doing just that. This week we were fortunate enough to be able to visit one of their latest projects in Seattle, Washington.
The treehouse is accessed by a rustic set of stairs which wrap around the trunk of the tree and curve down to the ground below.
The exterior of the treehouse is exquisitely finished, with spectacular yellow cedar shingles. A large porch area provides plenty of space to relax, entertain and enjoy being up amongst the trees…
Eco-resort on Hainan Island, China Design/photo by David Greenberg
Hey Lloyd!
I can’t wait for the new book. I’m ready for another dose of inspiration.
I just finished a treehouse in our backyard. The place in Haleiwa that Tom brought you to. I used as much recycled materials as possible. All siding from Fort Shafter, windows from the 1930’s, sinks, bathroom fixtures, toilet, shower stall is $90 stock tank from Lowe’s. I made the front door from a couple 4×6’s, cabinets are from old Douglas fir siding and an 8×8 I milled. I welded the stairs and made the rail from mahogany flooring.
Later,
–Gary and Luann
In August of 2014, eight months after I had graduated with my B.A. in Cultural Anthropology, I traveled from California to Northwest Washington to begin my first build of many. For five weeks I worked alongside natural builder Sunray Kelley as we built a two-story studio-sized cedar treehouse with nothing but our bare hands, a drill, and a chainsaw…
Hi Lloyd and friends,
Just thought you might like to see some photos of SunRay’s latest creation — a funky little treehouse nestled in ponderosa pine trees, built during the recent 20th anniversary Natural Building Colloquium in Kingston, New Mexico. I have a bunch of images on my website here: www.theyearofmud.com/blog
It’s a beautiful structure, particularly the roof. Hope you enjoy!
–Ziggy
Brian “Ziggy” Liloia
Natural Building Workshops & moreP.S.: By the way, I’m greatly looking forward to the next book!
From www.lloydkahn.com/…
When builder/craftsman Yuichi Takeuchi was asked by a friend to build a treehouse as a second residence in Fujiyoshida — an area near the base of Mount Fuji and popular for vacation residences — Takeuchi set to work searching the trees and looking for a place to rent.
He finally found a friend who was willing to lease some land (for a decade) in the backyard of his woodworking workshop. Takeuchi then invited friends/coworkers to camp out with him and brainstorm at the site. “I’m not a professional architect … I don’t really design things I just enjoy what’s happening next. And this was designed by many of us just staying in this little house [the workshop floor] and sleep together, eat together and drink together and just keep talking about design and how we want so this was happening on the location.”
Together Takeuchi and friends of Tree Heads & Co. began constructing a tiny cabin (“about 4-and-a-half tatami mats”) perched 20 feet high on two young trees. It’s constructed from Japanese cypress, mostly from trees felled by Takeuchi within a couple miles of the property.
The tiny elevated home is furnished with just a carpet — the part-time residents roll out sleeping bags at night — and a kitchen of rice cooker and camping stove.
Tree Heads & Co: www.treeheads.com
Original story: www.faircompanies.com/…
Jay Nelson is a gifted artist/builder. His mobile designs were featured in Tiny Homes and Tiny Homes on the Move: an electric car on bike wheels; an 8′ dinghy that you can sleep inside (and carry a surfboard on the roof); a motor scooter with surfboard rack.
What’s surprising is that his carpentry (and building design) are also outstanding. I especially like the way he uses used wood.
This is a treehouse he built on Kaua‘i. It’s not finished (but close).
In 2007, we got an email from Yogan, a young carpenter in France. He said he’d started out with a Volkswagen van, worked alone, and was following in the footsteps of old carpenters, using “…noble wood.” He had a large Mercedes van that contained his portable tools, as well as a bed and kitchen for working away from his home territory. He’d seen our book Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter, and wanted us to see the treehouse he was living in. We featured Yogan in both Tiny Homes and Tiny Homes on the Move. Here’s a new creation from Yogan, a ship-shape elevated 450 sq. ft. tiny home located in France, with a deck shaped like the prow of a ship.
Read More …
Send us material (photos and text) for The Shelter Blog.
