The Trend Of Treehouses For Adults

| Tuesday, August 19, 2014
By Deanne Shepard


There is a growing trend that enables adults to live out childhood dreams and more. Just about every child can remember having a desire to have a house in a tree. Now treehouses for adults are not only fulfilling this childhood fantasy but going way beyond, fulfilling a number of different roles.

Treetop dwellers have been around for centuries. The people of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific are examples of this. However, today specialist companies are focusing on designing and constructing these houses. They are being featured in respected architectural magazines and A World Treehouse Association even exists now as a testament to the growing popularity of this trend.

Despite the growing popularity, the fact that it is often the strangest versions that receive the most attention, results in many people not even considering the possibility of owning one. They feel that it is only celebrities and the very rich who qualify and do not realize that more moderate, affordable versions are available. After all, most of us have dreams of living closer to nature, especially due to the complex, stress filled lives we often lead.

Many types of these homes are available today from a small cabin to a mansion. The cost is obviously dependent on the size and complexity of the project. A simple cabin is suitable for use as a guestroom, a place to retreat to for some peace and quiet or even an art studio. A more complex structure with a kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms may be used as a permanent dwelling.

Designing and building these houses requires consideration of several unique elements. The first consideration is the tree in which the house is to be built. Is it healthy, what is the root structure like, will it be able to support the structure for many years? Various tests are usually performed to determine the answers before any designs are undertaken. Even construction methods are devoted to maintaining the health of the tree.

These houses come in a great variety of shapes and forms and the boundaries of possibility are constantly being pushed. Some are made of spheres or globes of plywood suspended from cables between trees. This is adaptable to many tricky situations. Some resemble nests and are constructed by weaving branches together to form enclosed spaces. Others offer precision engineering and all the creature comforts.

Some of these houses are built to be environmentally friendly. They are constructed using only reclaimed materials. They function using collected water and energy from photovoltaic panels. Double glazed windows are energy efficient and offer comfort too.

The size of the treehouse, the location, the materials, the level of finishes required are all factors that determine cost. Each project is different and this is why a site visit is necessary. A site visit is usually charged for as it involves tree selection, conceptual drawings and rough budgeting. More and more people are realizing that this is within their reach. It is interesting to contemplate whether this trend will eventually end in the existence of tree-communities in the future.




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