Critique my treehouse floor plan / layout

[sidekickdmr]

The Surveyor said:

Also, consider adding a little fun. A slide, a swing, an opening roof for evening star-gazing, a part/glass floor, crooked walls etc... a tree-house is quite an unconventional concept (to say the least) but your layout just looks a little 'safe', a little too much like a wooden house on stilts rather than a 'tree house' if that makes sense.

I agree with this 100% and i will be doing some really funky stuff, the designs to get through planning obviously have to be very matter of fact, but when we are doing the final spec and on site building it, not one wall will be the same, not one edge straight, im even talking to a zipline company about a shortcut back down to ground level.

So please ignore the finish and look of the place, but looking at the floor plan for now

[The Surveyor]

sidekickdmr said:

The Surveyor said:

Also, consider adding a little fun. A slide, a swing, an opening roof for evening star-gazing, a part/glass floor, crooked walls etc... a tree-house is quite an unconventional concept (to say the least) but your layout just looks a little 'safe', a little too much like a wooden house on stilts rather than a 'tree house' if that makes sense.

I agree with this 100% and i will be doing some really funky stuff, the designs to get through planning obviously have to be very matter of fact, but when we are doing the final spec and on site building it, not one wall will be the same, not one edge straight, im even talking to a zipline company about a shortcut back down to ground level.

So please ignore the finish and look of the place, but looking at the floor plan for now

sounds good. But do look at simplifying the plumbing and services accommodation to make it easier and cheaper to build.

[Vaud]

sidekickdmr said:

im even talking to a zipline company about a shortcut back down to ground level.

I'd talk to your insurer as well!

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

sidekickdmr said:

im even talking to a zipline company about a shortcut back down to ground level.

I'd talk to your insurer as well!

And your bank manager!

[Vaud]

A firemans pole might be an easier alternative.

[Spare tyre]

My advice is build a good one, when done get on YouTube and invite
Funforlois
Dave Erasmus
Alfie days
And similar down

Best free advertising you'd ever get

[Einion Yrth]

Sir Lord Poopie said:

Shouldn't a tree house be supported by the tree rather than wooden stilts?

This. It's a stilt house with some trees growing through it, not a tree house. If you want it build it, I'm sure it'll be grand, but it's not a tree house.

[Vaud]

Einion Yrth said:

This. It's a stilt house with some trees growing through it, not a tree house. If you want it build it, I'm sure it'll be grand, but it's not a tree house.

Nuance... if I saw that advertised, I'd think "tree house" even if it technically wasn't.

[sidekickdmr]

Right, thanks to this thread I've gone back to the architect and asked for more glass in the bedroom, a better spiral staircase around the tree popping into the deck and the back door/stairs to be shown with a porch.

Thanks for the help guys

Spare tyre said:

My advice is build a good one, when done get on YouTube and invite
Funforlois
Dave Erasmus
Alfie days
And similar down

Best free advertising you'd ever get

Good idea!

[anonymous-user]

If you manage to pull this off, of its type it will be seriously top end accommodation.

Hope it works out.

[Greg_D]

i'd remove the 'library' wall and go for a more open plan main living area, there is a lot of wasted space in the stairway lobby (are there even any windows in that space?) and box in under the stairs for oddments storage.

[ZOLLAR]

sidekickdmr said:

Update the thread when it's done, my OH and I love staying in places like this so would happily have a week away there.

Last year we stayed in this, quirky get aways are great.


http://www.embracescotland.co.uk/perthshire-dundee...

[sidekickdmr]

desolate said:

If you manage to pull this off, of its type it will be seriously top end accommodation.

Hope it works out.

Still got the planning hurdle to get over, but fingers crossed we do pull it off!

Thanks

Greg_D said:

i'd remove the 'library' wall and go for a more open plan main living area, there is a lot of wasted space in the stairway lobby (are there even any windows in that space?) and box in under the stairs for oddments storage.

Yes it does seem a shame to block the stairs off, but the back stairwell is a bit of a "hallway" so dirty wellies, wet coats etc can be stored in there, would you really want them in your lounge?

ZOLLAR said:

Update the thread when it's done, my OH and I love staying in places like this so would happily have a week away there.

Last year we stayed in this, quirky get aways are great.


http://www.embracescotland.co.uk/perthshire-dundee...

That is cool, I like the lakeside setting!

Ill let you know when we are up and running, I'm sure I can work out a decent PH discount too

[Mr Roper]

sidekickdmr said:

Ill let you know when we are up and running, I'm sure I can work out a decent PH discount too

[Elfit]

Reciprocal frame roof is a must~
Google it for images.They are fantastic!

I have built one on a straw bale building and put a window in the middle.
They are easier to build then you might think.

[OzzyR1]

Stayed here in the summer, was a lovely place.

The addition of a hot-tub on the deck was a great idea - have you ever thought about similar?

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/w...

[Greg_D]

sidekickdmr said:

Greg_D said:

i'd remove the 'library' wall and go for a more open plan main living area, there is a lot of wasted space in the stairway lobby (are there even any windows in that space?) and box in under the stairs for oddments storage.

Yes it does seem a shame to block the stairs off, but the back stairwell is a bit of a "hallway" so dirty wellies, wet coats etc can be stored in there, would you really want them in your lounge?

Not really, why not an enclosed space on the deck so you they don't drip all over the lounge on their way to the boot room and then lose the middle wall.

[sidekickdmr]

Elfit said:

Reciprocal frame roof is a must~
Google it for images.They are fantastic!

I have built one on a straw bale building and put a window in the middle.
They are easier to build then you might think.

They do look fantastic..... ill have a think about that!

Any pics of yours?

OzzyR1 said:

Stayed here in the summer, was a lovely place.

The addition of a hot-tub on the deck was a great idea - have you ever thought about similar?

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/w...

Yes ive seen that place, very nice it is too!

Yes we are thinking about getting a tub on the deck, I like the wooden ones. Stuff like that can, and will be specced later

Greg_D said:

Not really, why not an enclosed space on the deck so you they don't drip all over the lounge on their way to the boot room and then lose the middle wall.

There is a back staircase that pop's into that hallway directly, I will encourage people to use this back staircase when they are muddy etc.

[RizzoTheRat]

sidekickdmr said:

Yes we are thinking about getting a tub on the deck, I like the wooden ones. Stuff like that can, and will be specced later

Makes sure you design the deck to take that in to account, a colleague in The Hague wanted to put one on his roof terrace but it was slightly too high loading so he's having to build a reinforced platform to spread the weight a bit more.

[Elfit]

[quote=sidekickdmr]
They do look fantastic..... ill have a think about that!

Any pics of yours?

I've built a straw bale building. It's on stilts but not as high as your ~ just 18" to keep the straw out of the wet.


Basic Frame


Completed frame before roof covering


Inside


Outside

I'd say tell the architect to keep away from straight lines and go with something organic in shape.

Walls are made of straw bales with lime rendering.
On the top of the hole in the roof there's a crop spreader tyre and small tractor tyre.Polycarbonate on top, stained glass inside as you can see. Pond liner for waterproofing, plenty of insulation, soil then sedum growing on top.
We use it as a sauna ~ big log burner inside. It goes from 0 to 60 in an hour ~ not many buildings can boast that ! (degrees not mph!)

I have plenty of calculations links and spreadsheets if you need any help

I couldn't get my head around how to build the roof until I saw this video
http://livinginthefuture.org/episodes/43-reciproca...

(bare with it ~ there are some flaky moments but the build technique really works)

I have more pictures if needed

Cheers

Tim