tree house traditional designs

Continue reading below
Our Featured Videos

In some parts of the world and periods of history, the make-your-own approach has been more about function than fun. Some populations live mostly or exclusively in tree dwellings that range from simple and low-tech to towering structures at dizzying heights of up to 120 feet in places like New Guinea. The height, materials and overall designs of each treehouse reflects regional weather conditions and natural hazards.

tree house diy design

Tree house living has added security benefits, gives greater access to sunlight above tree lines and is often possible with low-tech construction techniques, local natural materials and even a single dedicated builder. There are of course potential problems with weather damage and tree growth over time but this is not so much as issue for structures built to be temporary lodgings in the first place.

Pictured above is the DIY “Too Tall” treehouse design by quirky tea house master Terunobu Fujimori, who’s known for building functional traditional tea houses in the most untraditional and surprising ways, like placing them on super-high stilts.