Overview
Whether you want to relive a childhood dream, get closer to the canopy or just sleep somewhere different for the night, a tree house offers the kind of escape not possible in any other kind of dwelling.
Here are ten of the world’s most unusual, beautiful and magical tree houses. You’ll find Burton-esque branch benders, comfy cocoons and romantic refuges.
1. The UFO
As its owner, the Swedish Treehotel, suggests, ‘What could be more different than a UFO?’ If you’ve been harbouring Star Trek fantasies since childhood, you can now breathe a sigh of relief.
2. The Birds' Nest
Another Swedish Treehotel special, The Birds' Nest is, well, pretty much what the name suggests. Blending seamlessly with its environment, it’s accessible via a retractable staircase.
3. The Mirrorcube
The Mirrorcube offers camouflage of a different sort. The mirrored walls reflect the surroundings, so that the cube is almost invisible. Infrared film, visible to birds, but not to humans, prevents winged creatures from collision.
4. The Cabin
The Cabin features a simplistic design, with broad windows putting the focus on a sweeping view of the Lule River Valley.
5. Free Spirit Spheres
Located in a coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island, the Free Spirit Spheres provide a ‘habitat for the untamed spirit that exists in us all’. Handcrafted, they are suspended in the treetops via a spider web-like pattern of ropes.
6. Ramshackle House
Were Edward Scissorhands to emerge from this dwelling, we somehow wouldn’t be surprised. Actually, we’re wondering if it might be Tim Burton’s secret holiday house, except that we’re not quite convinced of its stability.
7. Hapuku Lodge Upper Branch
Found in New Zealand, this more conventional apartment-style tree house, located above a manuka grove, offers views of the Kaikoura Mountains and the Pacific Ocean coastline. It’s made of native wood and furnished with the work of local craftspeople.
8. Inhabit Treehouse
Still in concept mode, the Inhabit Treehouse, designed by Antony Gibbon, features a trapdoor entrance and a cedar finish.
9. Cocoon Tree
Looking for a protected escape from the world? The Cocoon Tree is a cosy, waterproof sphere, which is suspended with a combination of ropes and netting.
10. Huntsville Botanical Garden Tree House
Situated in Alabama, this creation was on show during the 2010 Huntsville Botanical Gardens Tremendous Treehouses Exhibition.
[via Mashable]