BEN Latest News: TRAVEL: These 10 Treehouses Will Make You Want To Live In The Forest

Monday 23 June 2014

TRAVEL: These 10 Treehouses Will Make You Want To Live In The Forest

As kids, most of us dreamed about having a treehouse of our own, where we could form a secret club, stay up late, or just hide from mom and dad. Some of us were lucky enough to have one. A few among us, however, have been even luckier, making a treehouse an integral part of their adult life, and the results have been nothing short of stunning. Actor Heath Ledger was one of those individuals, as The Inquisitr previously reported, and his arboreal domicile now belongs to no less than Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson.

As these examples from io9 and boredpanda show, the treehouse has proven to be fertile ground for the imagination of modern architects. Many are Eco-friendly by design, and incorporate innovative support methods and technologies. Since the 1990s, an explosion of growth has taken place in recreational treehouse building, and according to wikipedia, there are now over 30 companies in the U.S and Europe alone that specialize in treehouse construction. Whether recreational or a fully functional dwelling, these treehouses are among the most unique structures on the planet. Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments.

10. Teahouse Tetsu (Japan)

This treehouse is the work of Terunobu Fujimori

Looking like something out of a fairy tale, this treehouse is located in Yamanashi, Japan

9. Free Spirit Sphere Treehouses (Canada)

The Free Spirit Spheres are one of the most non-invasive treehouse designs.

The Free Spirit Sphere treehouses hang suspended from the surrounding forest by a web of ropes, making them largely non-invasive.

The fiberglass and wood spheres are handcrafted.

The spheres are handcrafted from wood and fiberglass.

8. Three-Story Treehouse (British Columbia, Canada)

This example, from Revelstoke, is the tallest in British Columbia

Said to be the tallest treehouse in British Columbia, this example can be found somewhere near Revelstoke.

7. The HemLoft Treehouse (Whistler, Canada)

The Helmloft treehouse was built by 26-year-old Joel Allen, a retired software engineer.

Built by 26-year-old retired software developer Joel Allen, the HelmLoft treehouse has been featured in international design magazines.

6. Yellow Treehouse Restaurant (Auckland, New Zealand)

Built on a 130-foot-tall redwood tree, the Yellow Treehouse offers a unique dining experience.

The Yellow Treehouse is built on a redwood tree that stands over 130 feet tall.

Wrapped around the tree, the restaurant seats 18.

The restaurant is able to seat up to 18 guests at once.

5. The Bird’s Nest (Sweden)

The Bird's Nest is part of a larger Tree Hotel in rural Sweden

Looking like the nest of a gigantic bird, this treehouse is a part of the Tree Hotel, a collection of unique treehouses located in the Swedish countryside.

The Bird's Nest's interior is a marked contrast to its exterior

Inside, the Bird’s Nest is thoroughly modern.

4. E’terra Samara (Bruce Peninsula, Canada)

A non-invasive design, the E'terra is suspened by cables that are held in place with a simple rigging system.

A very unique design, the E’terra is constructed in three pieces and suspended by cables around the tree. Held in place by a simple shoulder and cable system, this treehouse is completely non-invasive.

3. The Hotel Costa Verde (Costa Rica)

This 727, converted into a hotel, sits in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle.

Fashioned from an old 727, this treehouse is actually a luxury hotel. It stands on a 50-foot pedestal in the Costa Rican jungle.

Hand-carved furniture adorns the interior of the 727 treehouse

The interior of the plane features hand-carved furniture, and even a jacuzzi in the cockpit.

2. UFO Treehouse (Sweden)

Fashioned from composite material, the UFO treehouse is a part of the same Tree Hotel as the Bird's Nest.

If the truth is out there, you may just find it in Sweden. Belonging to the same Tree Hotel complex as the Bird’s Nest, the UFO treehouse looks frightfully out of this world.

1. The Mirrorcube Treehouse (Sweden)

A head-turning and completely modern design, the Mirror Cube is located in Sweden's Tree Hotel.

Stunning in every way, the Mirrorcube, located in Sweden’s Tree Hotel, is a head-turning and totally modern interpretation of what a treehouse can be.