The Treehouse Hotel by Scandinavian Architects

Sleep Under The Northern Lights in an Isolated Lapland Forest

International architecture and design company Snøhetta have created the ultimate tree house in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. “The 7th Room” is a luxury hotel in Northern Sweden, near the Arctic Circle and its mission is to shorten the gap between people and nature.

 

The design of the structure is based on the traditional Nordic cabin and comfortably sits on twelve columns in an isolated evergreen pine forest 33 feet (10 meters) above the ground. The light wooden interior creates a cozy atmosphere and large windows offer jaw-dropping views of the Swedish Lapland, including the winding Lule River.

However, one of its most amazing features is an outdoor terrace with a netted base, which offers visitors an unforgettable experience under the Northern Lights. Besides that, the nearly 600 square feet (55 square meters) space hosts a social lounge area, bathroom, and two bedrooms. It accommodates up to five people and is accessible via a staircase and a small lift.

The wooden dwelling belongs to Treehotel which aims to introduce tourists to the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle. Treehotel also owns another six treehouse suites, all designed by Scandinavian architects, but the latest addition by Snøhetta is their tallest and largest one yet.

More info: Treehotel.se Comments below ;

Evil-Looking Buildings for a 007 Villain

Are you looking for a new lair? Then check out this list of diabolical-looking buildings for some seriously sinister inspiration.

Buzludzha, Bulgaria

 

Polygone Riviera, France

 

This building is located in a open air French mall, divided into four districts (Home & Garden, Lifestyle, Premium, and The Designer Gallery). The 22 meter (72 ft.) building itself is titled “Guetteur” which translated to English means "the lookout".

Riverside Museum, Glasgow, UK

 

Maison St Cyr, Brussels, Belgium

Fort Alexander (Plague Fort), Saint Petersburg, Russia

 

Flintstones Inspired House Design

Dick Clark’s Flintstones Inspired Home, USA

This real-world version of the Flintstones’ home has one bedroom and two bathrooms, a fireplace and several large glass windows offering views of city lights and sunsets as well as Serrano Valley, the Boney Mountains, the Channel Islands and the Pacific Ocean.

The whole property sits on more than 22 acres and is waiting for a new owner.

It doesn't come at a stone-age price though, television legend Dick Clark have listed it for subterranean earth shattering $3,500,000 ~ yabba-dabba-dooo.

Cocoon treehouse in forest

 Cocoon type treehouse in Canada

Lovingly constructed over a period of several years with mostly recycled materials and help from friends, the HemLoft is truly one of the most perfect treehouse designs we have seen over the years. After building a model to test its strength, Joel and his architect friends made the egg-shaped mini-home a little broader in order to increase the interior space. Nifty pop-up windows provide light and ventilation.

Joel kept this project a secret for three years, certain that Canadian officials wouldn’t be thrilled to learn that he was essentially squatting on land that borders a very wealthy neighborhood, but he eventually contacted Dwell Magazine, which was the first publication to break the story. The HemLoft has its own website now, which we urge you to visit, because there’s even more to this heartwarming tale – including love!

It took years to complete the project, which is one of the most beautiful tree houses we've ever seen.

3d printed concrete house / castle in garden

 world's first castle - printed on site !

Some guy from Minnesota has 3D-printed! the world's first castle in CONCRETE right in his own backyard ;  

back here in Ireland the potential for custom portico's and conc. features and also the possibilities for annoying planners are endless

  “My goal will be to print 24 hours a day until the project is finished,” writes Rudenko. “I’m also planning to print the structure in one piece; printing the castle turrets by themselves was a bad idea as they were extremely difficult to lift and place.” Rudenko is also currently looking for collaborators and backers for his next project.

"My goal will be to print 24 hours a day until the project is finished," writes Rudenko. "I'm also planning to print the structure in one piece; printing the castle turrets by themselves was a bad idea as they were extremely difficult to lift and place."

the hobbit house design

The Hobbit House (how cool is this place!)

Simon & Jasmine Dale built this house for their family in Wales. -  It was built by myself and my father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting we were moved in and cosy. I estimated 1000-1500 man hours and £3000 in materials. Not really so much in house buying terms (roughly £60/sq m excluding labour).

The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gave us a unique opportunity to live close to nature. It housed our family whilst we worked in the woodland surrounding the house doing ecological woodland management and setting up a forest garden, things that would have been impossible had we had to pay a regular rent or mortgage. The main tools used were a chainsaw, hammer and 1 inch chisel, little else really. I was not a builder or carpenter, my experience was only having had a go at one similar house 2yrs before and a bit of mucking around inbetween. This kind of building is accessible to anyone. My main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverence and a mate or two to give a lift now and again.

Some key points of the design and construction:

 

• Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
• Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
• Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
• Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
• Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
• Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
• Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
• Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
• Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring...)
• Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful
• Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
• Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
• Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
• Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
• Water by gravity from nearby spring
• Compost toilet
• Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

Click here for plans of the house

solar heating grant ireland

Changes to Insulation Grant Scheme 2014

Insulation Grants
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland HES GRANT SCHEME
What you will need when applying for the grant:

• Name & Address
• Your ESB MPRN Number (found on your ESB Bill)
• Your Bank Account Number
• Your bank branch sort code

You will also be asked for your contractors name & ID number
HES Grant categories available are as follows
Grants are available to eligible applicants for undertaking the following works, in accordance with the  requirements contractor code of practice Technical Specification.

Energy Efficient Works		Incentive
		Cash Grant Value*
Insulation	Attic Insulation	€200
	Wall Insulation - Cavity	€250
	Wall Insulation - Internal Dry Lining
	Apartment (any) OR Mid- terrace House	€900
	Semi-detached or End of Terrace	€1,350
	Detached House	€1,800
	Wall Insulation - External
	Apartment (any) OR Mid- terrace House	€1,800
	Semi-detached or End of Terrace	€2,700
	Detached House	€3,600
Heating System	Heating Controls with Boiler (Oil or Gas) Upgrade.	€560
	Heating Controls Upgrade only	€400
	Solar Heating	€800
Building Energy Rating (BER)		€50**

*Cash Grants are set value unless expenditure is below the set value, in which case the actual expenditure will be reimbursed.
**A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an integral part of all grant applications under the Better Energy Homes scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a
BER on their home after grant aided works have been completed. A homeowner is entitled to BER funding of €50 once per home. This funding will be applied to
your grant application automatically provided you have never applied previously for BER funding. You will be informed during the online grant application process
if BER funding is available for your home or as part of your Letter of Grant Offer if you have applied through the post. It is advisable that you apply for and undertake
all planned grant aided works at the same time to minimise the costs of multiple BER assessments.

*** Note. Internal and external wall insulation grants will no longer be one single amount, but rather be based upon the house type.