treehouses – not for kids really
Ever imagined owning a treehouse? Probably when you were a kid. Maybe it is the same childhood spirit that drives people building large treehouses in areas where the nature would not necessarily require it, or just a desire to have something different.
Could a treehouse be your next project in that massive oak or maple in the backyard? Or just love the spirit of a modern luxury treehouse? Here are my treehouse favourites.
First is the real treehouse, the Alnwick Garden Treehouse. it was built in 2004 in Northumberland, England. The gardens itself were derelict for a while until the Duchess of Northumberland revived them and opened the place for public. Alnwick Garden was designed by international Belgian garden designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz.
These two towers carry most of the weight of the house
This massive treehouse even has a restaurant and private room for hire
A large treehouse requires many knee braces to support the floor
The restaurant feels very natural as wood and small branches were used in decoration
This suspended bridge walkway join the two parts of the treehouse.
Views of The Alnwick Garden. There are over ten different garden areas such as the Poison Garden and Bamboo Labyrinth, and new features in progress include a Grotto, the Pavilion Garden, the Quiet Garden, the Spiral Garden, the Garden for the Senses and Lighting project which features water and light in the evenings.
The Grand Cascades The Rose Garden
The Serpent Garden images by Alnwick Gardens
This is the famous Tree House in Delaware built by Sander Architects. This is not really a treehouse, but rather has been designed with the spirit of house in the trees. It is also featured in one of my favorite books called All of Architecture.
Tree House is modern house with quirky details including 20ft (6m) windows – just think of all that sunlight. The location in natural, mature woodlands just gives the feeling of living in a tree. The house was built vertically because of building restrictions due to being in a potential flood-zone.
The spiral staircase leads to the roof of the house where the treetops views must be magnificent.
Front view featuring the large windows and full-height spiral staircase
Discrete drive to the house
Profile in the dusk
Grand features of the house – massive modern fireplace and full-height windows
Galvanized metal and aluminum-plated grand stairway with landing that provides a view of the stream below
Here’s another luxury treehouse, Banyan Teeehouse, designed by the architects RPA It is located in the hills of Nichols Canyon, Los Angeles, CA.
It is a sanctuary of wood and glass featuring an arts studio and recreational retreat. (RPA via Arch Daily)
Poles piercing the house like tree trunks in a real tree house
Beautiful house front
Wood floors and panelling – shades of wood inside out
Window more like a piece of living art!
And finally, back to the real treehouse, the spirit of camping in the nature. Small, yet modern and sophisticated.
Images from German treehouse specialist Baumraum