O2 Sustainability Treehouse
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 03.23.06
We prefer to hug trees rather than build in them- Treehouses can be an affront to nature and do little good for the trees. Perhaps there are exceptions, like O2 Sustainability Treehouse, a geodesic dome hanging 45 feet in the air. Bucky's domes use less material than just about any other structure known; in this case they are using less of fully sustainable materials. It hangs on cables, uses no nails or bolts and won't harm the tree. It is beautifully drawn, built and presented by 23 year old furniture designer Dustin Feider.
"It is built with 100% sustainable materials, does not restrict or harm the tree in any way. The design can accommodate any tree, single trunk, multi trunk, or several trees. Its modular design allows for materials to be easily switched out accommodating style, size and functional design preferences. O2 Sustainability offers design and instillations services or can be ordered as a self-installable kit. The tree house design supports sustainable ideas through its form and function allowing one to experience nature as the birds do in an upper canopy tree haven." Dustin says " It is a place for reflection, social gathering, and fantasy. The design of the tree house supports ideas of sustainability through its form and function by means of recycled, eco friendly materials, and it's causing no harm to the tree. It is a great place to observe nature, have group meetings or hold team-building activities. This tree house allows one to experience nature as birds do, in an upper canopy tree haven. The tree house is light in weight, safe, and offers a large interior space suspended between the tree's branches. "
This kid can draw, too. (Click to enlarge)
Available in kit form: Read ::Inhabitat; and O2 Sustainability Treehouse
Inhabitat also sent us the sustainable Boase urban grow-your own treehouse. and you can see other treehouses here.
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drilling two or three holes into the trunk of a tree would probably do much less harm than hanging a cable over it's branches. after decades of trial and error, this is the technique pro treehouse builders have settled on. those cables restrict the outer cambium layer which transports nutrients between leaf and root. a hole only pierces the layer and the tree heals around it. the friction from those cables would create a wound that would not heal, continually stress the tree and possibly kill the entire branch. if you're designing treehouses, consult an arborist.
I'm rather appalled at the comment "treehouses can be an affront to nature and do little good for the trees." On the contrary, most treehouses do nothing bad for the trees. As dug said, a few bolts in a tree can rarely harm or kill it. I know from experience, I've built several treehouses, and lived in my treehouse for five years. The trees have no harm done to them.
Treehouses are not an affront to nature; they often make just about anyone smile, and bring out the child in the oldest adult. They bring joy and happiness.
Hi,
This is Dustin Feider the builder of the cable hanging tree house. I appreciate the point brought up about the restriction of the tree's cambium, and flow layer. This allows me to point out that this issue has been considered in the design of this tree house. Rather than the cable lying across the entire surface of the branch it is raised up on small blocks in effect putting pressure along a few key points rather than along the surface of the branches circumference. The area of cambium that a bolt would affect is equal to the area that these blocks affect; only there is no entry into the tree and no possibility of infection.
I feel the cable systems largest benefit is that it allows the tree to move in the wind completely unabated by any restrictions that a structure bolted directly to the tree may cause. When blowing in the wind this tree house rocks up and down similar to a boat rolling in waves and offers a more genuine tree canopy experience.
Dear Dustin Feider,
We are thinking on very similar lines, I am currently designing an ecological hotel suite for a hotel group called Six Senses in Thailand and I would really like you to contact me at louis@sonevaresorts.com, as i have a proposition for you. This is totally serious and I can't access your website. I have to present the idea on 21st May so please contact me quickly.
Louis
there are some really amazing projects going on in trees around the world. the trick is to not waste the material that you clear. i am an appretice carpenter and the last few projects that i have been on have been quite keen on conservation. if you trim a tree properly all the tree will contiue to grow, prosper and support a rather large dwelling. for anyone who is interested in this topic i encourage them to read HOME TREE HOME which should be on the bookstand of any nature savvy store
Wow. Thats a nice one. Congratulations.
I just found it by "accident" and so got aware that we are not alone.
Our geodesic treehouse to be seen on www.sensaciones.de/espacios/bola.htm.
It is sitting on an olive tree without any bolts.
In the moment we are finishing an icosaedric one which will be a multiple gigant musicle instrument, opening as a stage.
It will be presented on our website when finished.
Saludos
Achim