TREE HOUSE

'Tree houses', 'treehouses', or 'tree forts', are buildings constructed among the branches or next to the trunk of one or more mature trees, and are some distance off the ground. They can be, but are not necessarily, designed for permanent habitation. Generally, the term "tree fort" is used only for recreational structures and not permanent homes.
In some parts of the tropics, ordinary houses for living are built in trees or elevated on stilts to the same level as the trees, to keep the living quarters above hazards at ground level. They can also be used for storing food out of reach of scavenging animals.
Tree houses are the only solution for building of eco-friendly facilities in some remote forest-areas. The wildlife, climate and illumination on ground-level in areas of dense close-canopy forest is not suitable for human habitation.
As of 2007, there are over 20 architectural businesses in Europe and North America that specialize in building treehouses of various degrees of permanence and sophistication, from children's play structures to fully-functioning homes.
Although they have traditionally been of wood, experimentation with new technologies and innovative fabrics has led to the development of viable temporary living structures that are more like "tree tents" than tree houses. These have recently been used by scientists documenting the flora and fauna of the little-researched upper canopies of tropical forests.

Contents

See also

External links

See also

★ Fab Tree Hab: House made of living trees at MIT

External links

The Treehouse Guide - Resource compiling links to building guides, notable treehouses, and treehouse building businesses