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Pete Nelson is a rare triple threat: a writer, photographer and a treehouse builder. Nelson is also an architect and contractor, as well as a family man, and he has spearheaded a growing treehouse revival that inspires the kid in all of us. Nelson's latest book, New Treehouses of the World, takes us on a fantastical voyage through secret hideouts and dream forts, from Long Island to Thailand and many places in between.
Nelson, who designs and builds the playful structures through his Seattle-based company TreeHouse Workshop, Inc., believes they help children and adults alike reconnect with nature, as well as enjoy family time. Nelson encourages us to "let go of earthbound encumbrances and be free." Continue to see some of the world's most freeing spaces.
On a primordial patch of forest in Fall City, Washington sits Nelson's Northwest Treehouse School, a place for people to come learn about nature, construction and--naturally---the art of building treehouses. A main lodge can accommodate 40 people for classes, and there are several treehouses with comfortable guest lodgings.
Perched high in the forest of Okinawa is a unique creation by master Japanese treehouse builder Taka, author of Treedom: The Road to Freedom. The "Plexiglass portal to the universe" is an attraction at the rustic Beach Rock resort, a popular stopover for young Japanese backpackers and those who want to get away from the ordinary for a while. The treehouse was built in 2005, and weathered a typhoon the following season.
Looking like something from Avatar or Star Wars, the Free Spirit Spheres in British Columbia are designed to be "treehouses for adults." Handmade from local wood, they are envisioned for meditation, photography, canopy research or wildlife watching, and can be finished with plumbing, electricity and insulation. Some are available for rental, and DIY kits are offered.
Treehouse building is often a collaborative process. In addition to ensuring safety, well executed designs minimize impact on the surrounding environment.
Nelson built this gorgeous treehouse in a ravine near a remote channel of Puget Sound. The client wanted a place for his young sons to host sleepover parties, and to get closer to nature. The boys dubbed it the Driftwood Inn.
Another unique Taka creation is the Driftwood Egg Treehouse, which he created for a Nescafe commercial on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The small perch was constructed from driftwood sourced from the region.
The aptly named Secret Garden Treehouse in Seattle was commissioned by a young music industry star who wanted a quiet retreat.
Started during a five-day workshop at the Northwest Treehouse School, this ambitious project features a virtual wall of glass. Perched in a giant western red cedar, the 200 square feet of space are meant for a queen-size bed, electric toilet, a closet, reading area and even a small kitchen.
A pair of expats in Costa Rica, Matt and Erica Hogan, are developing a 30-lot eco-village in paradise. Finca Bellavista, as the small community is called, will have a microhydro plant on a gurgling stream, solar panels, a recycling center and a common garden. Transportation is by foot, or ziplines, and visitors and residents will bunk in the trees.
One of Nelson's collaborators, Roderick Romero, specializes in unique treehouse designs made from salvaged and reclaimed materials. Romero once built a treehouse in Italy for the rock star Sting. His Lantern house is balanced between three eucalyptus trees in Santa Monica, California.
Working with a client who has an affinity for bridges, Nelson built this unique structure in Western Washington. The span was installed by Sahale Bridge Builders of Seattle.
The inspiration for this sprawling treehouse cathedral came in a flash from the heavens 18 years ago, to Horace Burgess of Crossville, Tennessee. Burgess has worked on the structure ever since, using wood reclaimed from five different barns. When church isn't in session, the spacious interior serves as a basketball court.
Where: East River, Park Row, Manhattan to Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY
In the early 1800s, the residents of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan discussed the idea of a bridge to link the 2 cities together -- allowing people and goods to easily cross the East River. After multiple attempts to get something underway, John Roebling, a bridge designer, proposed a suspension bridge in 1855. Believe it or not, he actually designed the bridge hoping that it would be perceived as a great work of art one day. The proposal was approved 2 years later and work began on Jan. 3, 1870. Roebling had since passed away, so his son, Washington, took over as chief engineer of the project with help from his wife, Emily. Even before it opened in 1883, the bridge was seen as a symbol of greatness in New York, but folks across America were also mesmerized by the size and ingenuity of the project. Today, the bridge is a National Historic Landmark and still has the 44th longest main span among the world's suspension bridges.
Empire State Building
Where: 350 5th Avenue, New York, NY
Built during the Depression, the Empire State Building is a work of determination and pride both in New York and U.S. history. It all started when the Chrysler Corporation and General Motors were in competition to build the tallest building. Architect William Lamb was chosen to design the building and construction began in March 1930. By October that same year, 88 floors were finished with just 14 left to go. Workers were able to maintain this speedy construction pace since the posts, beams and windows were made in factories and then brought in by train to be put up on site. During the time the building was built, there was much talk among New Yorkers and Americans across the country about the incredible speed at which the building was being constructed, as well as weekly updates and stories about the men who built it. The Empire State Building is also a National Historic Landmark.
Golden Gate Bridge
Where: Located on US Highway 101 in San Francisco, CA
Millions of visitors each year flock to San Francisco for warmer weather, unique attractions and to see the Golden Gate Bridge. It was Joseph Strauss who submitted final plans for the bridge in 1930. The 6 counties involved with the bridge approved the $35 million project, and on Jan. 5, 1933, construction began. Just a few short years later, in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge welcomed its first visitor. To everyone's surprise, it opened ahead of schedule and under budget. Since then, the bridge has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, such as the first non-building structure to receive the "Distinguished Building Award" from the Society of American Registered Architects. The bridge can also be found on a commemorative stamp unveiled in 1998 by the United States Postal Service.
Hoover Dam
Where: The dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on US Highway 93 at the Nevada-Arizona border.
It took over 60 years from the time Maj. John Wesley Powell began to conduct geological studies of the Colorado River in 1869, to the concrete being poured in 1933, for Hoover Dam to be materialized. During this time the 7 basin states had to go through lengthy negotiations on how the water would be distributed, and of course, there were bidding wars on what construction company would get the job. In the end, a group called Six Companies was awarded the contract -- the winning bid was over $48 million. Despite the long years of bids, planning, site inspections and more, it took just five years to complete the mammoth structure. Today, the dam is a testament to the dedication of the country's ability to construct such a structure, especially during the years of the Depression. Hoover Dam is also a National Historic Landmark.
Mount Rushmore
Where: The Black Hills of South Dakota, along Highway 244
The location of Mount Rushmore was once property of the Sioux, including an area called the Black Hills. But once gold was discovered there, prospectors soon displaced the Sioux and began building mining camps. In 1885, an American businessman named Charles Rushmore paid a visit to the Black Hills to check on some titles to properties for a mining company. It was a few years later, after winning over the hearts of the miners and prospectors, that the mountain was named in his honor. So how did those faces end up on the rock? Historian Doane Robinson, in 1923, started the process that later turned into the Mount Harney Bill, allowing a monument to be carved. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum arrived two years later to begin the carving. The monument was officially completed on Oct. 31, 1941. Today, Mount Rushmore sees over 2.6 million visitors per year.
Seattle Space Needle
Where: 219 4th Avenue N, Seattle, WA
Washington Monument
Where: 15th Street, SW, Washington, DC
It doesn't matter what part of the world people come from, one sight of this obelisk design and they know they're in America. Similar to other memorials such as the Taj Mahal or the Great Pyramids, the Washington Monument is a celebration of 1 person's life or legacy -- in this case, the life of America's first president, George Washington. Architect Robert Mills won a contest to design the sculpture. It was intended to be the centerpiece of the capital city, symbolizing each state of the Union. Work on the monument began in 1843, and was completed in 1884. It is 555 feet tall and contains over 36,000 blocks.
Daughter of a former president of Vietnam, Hang Nga was confronted with almost no restrictions at all, when she decided to build her wacky hotel. The Vietnamese government simply looked the other way and allowed her to let loose her imagination, without considering rules and regulations. And you can witness the end result in the photos below.
The interior of Hang Nga’s hotel is just as unusual as the outside. It’s filled with unexpected twists and turns, narrow hallways, bizarre rooms and dotted with strangely shaped windows. This is probably why Crazy House is more successful as a tourist attraction, than a hotel. Hang Nga, who lives in her “masterpiece”, tries to convince people to stay at least a night, but most prefer to take some photos and look for a more conventional hotel.
Fairy chimney houses, carved out of rocks in the Roman period, can be found in Göreme, a town in Cappadocia and an important monastic center between 300-1200 AD. The site comprises many rock-hewn churches and chapels, as well as some remnants of the underground cities.
The stone house in the Fafe mountains in northern Portugal was built in 1974. It was constructed between four large boulders found on the site.
4. Cube Houses. The Netherlands.
The cube houses are located in Rotterdam and Helmond, the Netherlands. The complex was designed by Piet Blom in 1984.
5. Another Stone House. France.
The house was constructed in 1940 in Hazard. Its windows are egg-shaped and the eyes are automobile headlights.
8. Inversion. Houston. The USA.
A vortex installation known as Inversion was designed by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck at Art League Houston. It was made of two small houses scheduled for demolition.
Designed by an Austrian artist Erwin Wurm, the Fat House is, actually, a life-sized building. It is part of the Fat series started by the artist in 2003.
Designed by Daniela Czapiewski, the upside down house is located in the Education Centre in the village of Szymbark, Poland. It is supposed to be an artistic statement about the communist era in Poland and its impact on the Polish society.
13. Steel House. Texas. The USA.
Designed by Robert Bruno, the steel house stands at the top of the Ransom Canyon, Texas, and is, actually, the artist's home. The construction of the house began in 1973 and since then the project has many times been revised.
Sydney Harbor Bridge and the opera house are the places that makes Sydney famous. Sydney Harbor Bridge offers a fascinating view of harbor and connects central district to northern part. This bridge was opened in 1932. You can climb the bridge in daylight and at night time.
Created in 1883, this bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn and is located in USA. This bridge is a sign of romance and love, that is why many Hollywood movies have been pictured on it. A wide pathway is available for the walkers, in center of it.
From 1933 to 1937, Golden Gate Bridge was constructed along the Golden Gate. It connects San Frisco to Marin County. You can walk on it during the daylight, with a walk of about 1 hour, but try to walk in a clear sunny day.
A wooden bridge located in Iwakuni, reminds us of the history. It was built in 1673. It is located over Nishika River. It was destroyed many times by heavy floods and was reconstructed again and again.
Located in Istanbul, Galata Bridge was designed in 1505 but constructed in 1845. In 1863, it was replaced by another bridge made up of wood. Third one was completed in 1875 and fourth in 1912. During 1994, it was damaged by fire then again reconstructed.
Bosphorus Bridge connects Asia to Europe and has 8 lanes in it. An emergency lane is followed by a sidewalk lane. For traffic there are three lanes on each side.
Charles Bridge located at river Vltava in Prague, having 3 towers, was built to provide link between the Old Town and the adjacent areas. It is filled up with tourists, vendors and musicians. For a batter fun just walk on it when the sun is about to set.
Don’t confuse it with London Bridge. Tower Bridge is a symbol of British Empire and was constructed in 1886, over a period of 5 years. It was constructed to develop relationships and trade between East End and London.
Pont des Arts, a steel bridge, that spans river Seine was constructed in 1804. in 1976 some faults were detected by experts, and reason was the damage due to world war 1 &2. So in 1984, an initiative was taken to construct it again.
Rialto Bridge, is a historical bridge constructed in 1181 and was replaced by a wooden bridge in 1255. During 15th century, shops were constructed along both sides of bridge. It collapsed several time form 1444 to 1524.
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