Treehouses of the World

[Buzzsaw]

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Beach Rock treehouse (pictured below)

Perched high in the forest of Okinawa is a unique creation by master Japanese treehouse builder Kobayashi Takashi. The "Plexiglas portal to the universe" is an attraction at the rustic Beach Rock resort, a popular stopover for young Japanese backpackers and those who want to get away from the ordinary for a while.

The treehouse was built in 2005 and weathered a typhoon the following season.




Driftwood Egg treehouse (pictured below)

Another unique creation by by Kobayashi Takashi is the Driftwood Egg treehouse, which he created for a Nescafé commercial on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The small perch was constructed from driftwood gathered in the region.




Finca Bellavista treehouse (pictured below)

A pair of expatriates in Costa Rica, Matt and Erica Hogan are developing a 30-lot eco-village in paradise. Finca Bellavista, as the small community is called, will have a microhydro plant on a gurgling stream, solar panels, a recycling center and a common garden.

Transportation is by foot or ziplines, and visitors and residents will bunk in the trees.




Lantern House (pictured below)

This treehouse was designed by a man named Roderick Romero who specializes in unique treehouse designs made from salvaged and reclaimed materials. Romero once built a treehouse in Italy for the rock star Sting.

Romero’s Lantern house is balanced among three eucalyptus trees in Santa Monica, Calif.




Yellow Treehouse Restaurant (pictured below)

This treehouse is the amazing Yellow Treehouse Restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand.

Making extensive use of natural lighting throughout - a stunning architectural achievement appearing like an enormous chrysalis grafted onto a 40-meter-high redwood tree and constructed of plantation poplar slats, and redwood balustrades milled on location.

The masterpiece is predominately used as a restaurant.




Horace Cathedral (pictured below)

The inspiration for this sprawling treehouse cathedral came in a flash from the heavens 18 years ago to an ordained minister named Horace Burgess. Burgess has worked on the structure ever since, using wood reclaimed from five barns. When church isn't in session the spacious interior serves as a basketball court.

The colossal Crossville, Tennessee contraption is also considered by some as the largest treehouse in the world - a fact that some may dispute as far as treehouse definitions are concerned and whether or not this is a truly a treehouse.

[The Potter]

And yet none compare to the now rotten timbers nailed between two trees in the yard!

[extro...*]

I was recently at the last one listed, and I remember being amazed that they don't make people sign any kind off waiver. They did have a big "no trespassing" sign at the top of the dirt road down to the place, so maybe they planned on using that as a "waiver". Only a few week after I was there, I read that it was ordered closed to the public by authorities.

Two photos I took, though they don't really give a sense of how big it is:

[Buzzsaw]

I read that too extro, that the huge treehouse was recently shut down by the State Fire Marshal's Office concerning saftely issues. This was prompted after someone complained (in a letter to the state) with safety concerns so the State Fire Marshal's Office decided to pay the treehouse a visit.



Not only deemed a fire hazard, but according to this article in Crossville Chronicle, requirements were more demanding than simply a need to install an overhead sprinkler system.


According to the Fire Marshal's letter, violations that need to be addressed are as follows:

• The building is over the code allowable height by 60 feet and is eight stories over the allowable number of stories.

• There has been no registered design professional involved in its construction.

• There does not appear to be a systematic load distribution system. The structural stability of the building is questionable. Floors are severely sloped; joist spans and spacing have created floors that deflect when stepping on them. Joists and studs are scabbed together with nails.

• Floor decking is uneven in places and presents a tripping hazard.

• In many places, the step rise is too high and the step run is too short. At least two ladders have missing rungs.

• There are many fall hazards resulting from areas with no guard rails and no hand rails.

• Exits are not obvious or marked and navigating the building is difficult. The building is maze-like in design, and we overheard several people asking how to get down to the next floor level.

• There is no fire alarm, fire sprinkler system, or fire extinguisher apparatus present.




Petition drives have been started but it does not appear likely that the treehouse will be reopening anytime soon.



The director of codes enforcement Tennessee State Fire Marshal's office wrote (to treehouse owner):

[Buzzsaw]

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This Swedish treehouse built in a spectacular white oak/Quercus alba, and located 43 feet (13 metres) from ground level is an actual hotel.

Hotell Hackspett (translated in English, The Woodpecker Hotel) is open to the public, and for 1100 SEK (146 USD/108 EUR) per person per night - one can stay there.







In case anyone is wondering it does have a bathroom, a kitchen too.














If you're in Sweden or planning a trip there and would like to book the little-red-cottage-in-the-sky,
you can call Västerås Tourist office at +46 21 39 01 00.

Since it has no electricity or heating, it can only be booked between April 1 – October 31.
(June-August is reportedly the ideal time to stay there - that is unless you don't mind the nights being a bit on the nippy side.)
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