Tree house
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tree houses, sometimes known as tree forts, are buildings built 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.
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.
One of the most famous treehouses is the Treetops Hotel (opened in 1932 and rebuilt in 1944) in the Aberdare National Park, Kenya where guests can view wildlife in close proximity from atop the treehouse hotel in relative safety.
