Have you ever wanted to live in a treehouse?

01.31.11 // My Mondays

I know I have.  Preferably in Neverland somewhere.  I do love me that second star to the right…

I came across an article last week all about treehouses – fully functional actually living abodes for people and/or families located in a tree somehow.  This caused me to want to do some deeper digging on the matter, which is when I stumbled upon the article below.  It really stood out to me because it not only presented me with fabulous pictures of the finished products, but it also provided solid information about the designs and actual construction of these beasts to allow them to become bonafide living/meeting spaces.  I find this to be highly interesting – probably because it seems so far-fetched and child-like.  Que fanTAStico.

(To see even more cool treehouses, click on the link at the very bottom.)

Treehouses.  Tents.  Forts.  Almost all of us adored creating and then playing inside of these safe houses when we were little – didn’t we?  You grabbed whatever you could – blankets, pillows, couch cushions, umbrellas, books to anchor the cloth corners, etc.  It was so much fun for us!

This makes me think of 2 questions in response: 1.) Why did we love it so much? and 2.) Why don’t we do it anymore?

Did we enjoy creating something with our own hands?  Did we feel accomplished with having a physical result for our labors?  Did we feel safe inside the flimsy walls of sheets and pillows?  Did we feel special because we were inside the fort, and not everyone would be allowed in there?  Did we feel powerful because in the fort, we got to make the rules; it was our domain, and not anyone else’s?  Did we feel unreachable, unseeable, unhearable?  Did we go in there to hide away, or to open up?  Did secrets get concocted and/or shared within the confines of the fort?  Did questions get answered?  Games played?  Characters invented?

What is it about this idea…and how can we harness it and continue to utilize it regardless of our age, location, occupation, various and specific life circumstances?

I think treehouses are amazing things.  I always wanted one as a kid, but never had one.  This makes me feel like I will definitely have one later in life to compensate.  In the meantime, I shall continue to actively and constantly indulge in the awesomeness that a tent can provide.

What about you?

with passion & gratitude — jenbish

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10 Amazing Tree Houses: Plans, Pictures, Designs & Building Ideas

By Urbanist in Architecture & Design, Environment & Nature, Urban Images

(Check out our complete collection of Green Art, Design and Technology.)

As a young child (or perhaps even an adult) who hasn’t dreamed of living tree houses? Some structures are built on trees or hung from trees, but some unusual tree house building designs are even grown from trees or built right into a tree. Some people live in trees as a luxury, some to help save the environment and others out of tradition or necessity. Here are ten incredible tree house designs that range from functional to fanciful, sustainable to strange and affordable to incredibly expensive.

Baumraum treehouses blends classic notions of a simple wood structure in a tree with modernist angles, clean lines and other design elements. These both blend with and stand out from their natural environs and are customized to client wishes before being installed. The Baumraum group is both experimental and experienced, wish expertise in tree types, capabilities and environmental impact.

The mobile, durable and somehow fanciful Free Spirit Spheres can be hung from anything from trees to buildings and rock faces. Webbing and ropes literally and metaphorically anchor these spheres to their locations. Just four anchor points are needed to carry the entire weight of the spheres. Each sphere is waterproof and impact-resistant, composed of an internal laminated wood frame and clear fiberglass exterior.

The 4Treehouse by Lukasz Kos floats like a “Japanese lantern on stilts” and is situated to accommodate four existing trees on the site. As with the best tree house designs, this project successfully worked around the existing natural site conditions. The three-story house itself rents suspended from these four primary site trees.

The TreeHouse Workshop is a Seattle-based company that takes the art of constructing tree houses extremely seriously. They build an average of one tree house per month and hire extremely able builders and carpenters to construct their projects. Their finished works vary in luxury but some even include (counterintuitive!) fireplaces.

The 02 Sustainability Tree House defies many of the conventions one associates with a typical tree house. The paradigm of a square shack-like wooden structure is replaced with a light and spacious geodesic dome structure that requires very little (and eco-friendly) material and has minimal impact on trees in which it is placed (hanging from cables rather than bolted to trees). It is designed for residential, meditation and meeting functions.

Of course, not all tree houses are avante garde examples of design and sustainability – some people live in far more traditional tree houses such as the tree dwellers shown in the photographs above. In the jungles of the Brazza River Basin in the Indonesian province of Papua the local tribes have slowly built their way up into the trees to escape pests and one another. Their residences now reach dizzying heights of over 100 feet.

This amazing Vietnamese tree house structure is a “tree house” in an entirely unconventional sense of the phrase and draws tourists and guests from around the world. Of course not just anyone can get permission to build a house like this: it helps to be the daughter of the ex-president of the country. Tourists are even able to stay in the rooms overnight.

It’s one thing to chain oneself to a tree in order to save it, but quite another to live in one! In order to save 400+ year old trees, a group of activists has been doing just that on impromptu suspended platforms that currently constitute the tallest “tree house” in the world (top images above). One clever designer has developed a series of conceptual strategies shown in the above images to take this approach to the next level. With just 13% of these old-growth trees left, these new structures would link from tree to tree providing habitats but also protecting the natural environment.

What if instead of building a tree house, you could grow it yourself? A combination of scaffolding and other systems could be used to direct the growth of these fascinating and creative concept tree houses over a period of years. Vines, roots and trees become organic architectural materials to create a flexible framework for these curious creations. Windows would be made of flexible soy membranes that would shift as the building grew.

The Syberite tree house project blends modular design with low-impact living. Layouts are allowed to conform to the natural landscapes around them to take maximum advantage of views and natural light without disturbing the local environment. The thin foundational supports are designed to minimize impact on root systems and the ground surface. Rainwater collection, solar panels, wind collection and other sustainable systems are also integrated making the house mostly energy independent.

To wind down from the more wacky designs, the above video shows a simple traditional tree house being built – but sped up and using stop-motion techniques to illustrate the process. Thanks in part toDeputy Dog and Freshome and for more sustainable designs be sure to see these collections of strange recycled architecture, unusual green vehicles, bizarre green art and incredible green roofs. There are also some great books with more tree houses around the world, interesting tree houses in the United States and tree houses you can actually build.

Next: 15 More Amazing Tree Houses

Steven King’s “The Dark Tower” series to be translated to both the big and small screens.

So, the sprawling seven-book series that took King over 20 years to churn out has now been scooped up with the intention of be translated across both film and television platforms to the tune of a TV mini-series to fill in the gaps between installments of the film trilogy.

“Dark Tower” fans have solidly mixed reviews about this thanks to how detailed and well-executed the novel series is itself.  Will adapting the material in this way do it justice, or solidly undercut its literary awesomeness?

Hmmmm…

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Javier Bardem Offered Lead in ‘The Dark Tower’

Published by Jeff Leins on January 26, 2011

2011 Oscar nominee Javier Bardem has been offered the role of Roland Deschain, the lead in Ron Howard’s upcoming adaptation of the Stephen King series “The Dark Tower.”

Negotiations have not officially begun with Bardem, who was one of the frontrunners earlier this month along with fan favorite Viggo Mortensen.  But Mortensen is now busying himself with Snow White and the Huntsman at Universal, it seems, and the role is Bardem’s for the taking.

Christian Bale also joined the rumor mill this week, but according to Deadline “there’s a high level of enthusiasm internally that they’ve got their cowboy.”

He’s certainly an inspired choice, even amongst Bale and Mortensen.  Bardem was named one of the five nominees for “Best Actor” for his dramatic performance in Biutiful this week, and won the “Best Supporting Actor” Oscar for No Country for Old Men three years ago. (Has it been that long already?)  It has been a great week for Bardem, who is currently celebrating the birth of his first son with actress Penelope Cruz.  May it be a masculine son.

The adaptation of King’s seven-novel “Dark Tower” series is an ambitious, unprecedented blend of movies and television that Howard is overseeing and directing with his producing partner Akiva Goldsman, who is writing at least the first two pieces.  The series will begin with a feature film, then transition into a TV component (likely a six-part miniseries) that will bridge the gap to a second film.  Bardem is expected to star in those three elements.  However, the fourth piece, another TV segment, will focus on Deschain as a young man and will require a new actor.  The third feature will complete the series with the original cast.

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Mortensen, Bardem Rumored for ‘Dark Tower’

Published by Jeff Leins on January 3, 2011

When Universal Pictures and multi-hyphenated talent Ron Howard announced their extremely ambitious adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” series, the question on every fan’s mind was “who will play Roland Deschain?”

Deschain is the lead role in King’s sprawling, seven-novel series, a gunslinger destined to discover the secrets of his world and the titular tower.  The character spans the book series, meaning whoever commits to the coveted role will appear in all three planned films (starting in 2013) and the television seasons they intend to “bridge” the story gaps.

Howard himself, in an interview with the LA Times, name dropped Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, and “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm as potential candidates, though all three are leading their own film and television franchises.  He also acknowledged the fan favorite to be Viggo Mortensen, who skyrocketed to fame due to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

But, over the holiday break, the NY Post claimed Javier Bardem is “leading the pack” with Mortensen a close second.  Bardem is the phenomenal actor who won the “Best Supporting Actor” Academy Award for playing the unrelenting Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men and may pick up another Oscar nomination for his performance in Biutiful.

It’s important to note that the massive undertaking is still in the early planning and scripting stages, and that casting won’t be finalized until there’s more structure.  Perhaps these two simply top the wishlist for Howard and his producing partners Akiva Goldsman and Brian Grazer.  Both are exceptionally talented actors — though Mortensen is probably more suited for the part physically — and definitely the caliber of star they will need in order to capture and sustain public interest throughout three movies and at least two TV seasons.

But will Bardem or Mortensen agree to that kind of massive, multi-year commitment?  Can Universal afford an A-lister for five separate pieces?  What about Mortensen’s franchise fatigue or age concerns (he’s 52)?

Secondly, casting rumors are focused on “Old Roland” and not the younger version of the character portrayed and explored in the flashbacks and comic book backstories, which will become the basis for the “bridge” episodes.  So it’s possible that even when a Roland Deschain is finally named, there will still be another Roland to come.

I’d love to hear what “Dark Tower” fans have to say or any other suggestions for Deschain.

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‘Dark Tower’ to Become Film Trilogy, TV Series

Published by Jeff Leins on September 8, 2010

Stephen King’s sprawling novel series, collectively called “The Dark Tower,” is being adapted into an unprecedented combination of movies and television.

Ron Howard, Akiva Goldsman and Brian Grazer, who acquired the rights from King in Spring 2010, are teaming with Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television for a film trilogy and TV series to realize King’s multi-genre opus.

The plan is for Howard to direct the first film, based on “The Gunslinger,” and the first season of the show on NBC with the same actors and Goldsman adapting.  Goldsman wrote the Dan Brown adaptations The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons for Howard, as well as Oscar winner A Beautiful Mind and the nominated Cinderella Man.

The television seasons will bridge the gap between films, though the second season (between the second and third movies) will explore the main character of Roland Deschain as a young man before picking up the mature Deschain for the final film installment.

Howard and company plan to shoot them back-to-back in order to save money on the massive production, much like Peter Jackson did with The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  But, like J.R.R. Tolkein’s fantasy world, the “Dark Tower” series has been called “unfilmable” due to its scope.  In today’s press release, Howard calls it “the challenge of a lifetime.”

King’s series, which took him over two decades to complete, has sold over 30 million copies in 40 countries.  He was also heavily involved in a prequel comic book series that provided further details on the universe and will play a part in the adaptation.

“Lost” co-creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof originally held the rights (for a mere $19), but opted not to adapt the seven-novel series upon completing the ABC series together.  Howard and Grazer, through their joint company Imagine Entertainment, scooped up the rights and initially hatched plans for a movie that would segue into a series.  Warner Bros and Universal were both vying for the project at the time and clearly the latter won.

However, fans haven’t been too thrilled with the idea of Howard, Grazer, and especially Goldsman adapting the series, so a faithful version for both the big and small screen will be an uphill battle from a PR stand-point as much as it is a technical feat.  An ambitious blend of movies and television may be a step in the right direction.  But is it enough?  What do you think, Stephen King fans?  Any thoughts on casting?

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Ron Howard to Adapt King’s Dark Tower Series

Published by Jeff Leins on May 1, 2010

“The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed.” — Stephen King’s “The Gunslinger”

Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman are teaming up to take on Stephen King’s sprawling “The Dark Tower” novel series.

The adaptations may begin as a feature film directed by Howard and written by Goldsman.  The pair has collaborated on favorites like A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man, but recently created back-to-back let-downs, the Dan Brown adaptations Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.

According to Heat Vision, after the first film the series would transition to a television series to be produced by Imagine Entertainment (the joint venture of Howard and Grazer).  Universal and Warner Bros are vying for the project.

J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company originally owned the rights (for a mere $19) and was planning a faithful version after the completed run of “Lost.”  His producing partner, Damon Lindelof, said after working six years on the enigmatic show, the last thing he wants is to work on a seven-novel series.  Thus the rights reverted to King.

The books published so far span from the original, “The Gunslinger,” in 1982 to “The Dark Tower” in 2004, incorporating elements of fantasy, sci-fi, western, and (of course) horror.  King is currently working on an eighth installment tentatively titled “The Wind Through the Keyhole” for an undetermined date.

Imagine’s involvement should be bittersweet news to Stephen King fans who have wanted to see the beloved books on the big (or small) screen.  There’s already trepidation over the rights being handed from the capable producers of “Lost” to the hit-or-miss hands of Howard and especially Goldsman, whose takes on I, Robot and I Am Legend have upset literary fans before.  Not to mention Goldsman’s involvement in the two worst Batman movies (Batman Forever and Batman & Robin).  What do you think about this news?

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So – what DO you guys think of these casting options?  For the hardcore “Dark Tower” fans out there, I, too, am curious about your thoughts on who could successfully pull off the feat of embodying Roland.  And then there’s the issue of the younger Roland: any ideas on who Hollywood might try to seek out?

If you have thoughts on the matter, share them, won’t you?

with passion & gratitude — jbish

It’s a tradeoff: comfort, or achieve your full potential.

Do you want to stay in your comfort zone, or do you want to explore past your boundaries?  To venture into the mysterious to experience things that surpass your current arsenal of achievements and memories?

Do you go through life with your hands on your ears?  That is to say – actively choosing to block out the things you don’t want to hear, are unfamiliar with, might scare or intimidate you in some way to some capacity?

“It’s a tradeoff: comfort, or achieve your full potential.  Because you canNOT stay comfortable and achieve your full potential… You have to make a choice.  Are we going to live our lives knee-deep in water, or are we going to live our lives fully emersed?”

Peter Bregman gave a TED talk going over these super-important concepts that will shape our lives and how we choose to live them.  It resonates with me hardcore, so maybe it will for you too.

Full emersion in life.  Is that something that makes your heart pitter-pat, and your anxiety level spike a bit upon thinking about?

Check out Peter’s full (but short) blog article about this talk here.  Uber special thanks to Canaan for putting this substance on the plate before me.  So yummy.

with passion & gratitude — jenbish