Every child dreams of having their own treehouse, but for most, the idea of living amongst the treetops disappears with the onset of adulthood. If you still have fantasies of spending your days of living it up in the wilds of nature like Tarzan, there’s hope for you yet. Part childhood fantasy, part sustainable escape, check out four of our favorite modern treehouse hotels located in the heart the world’s most beautiful forests.
Sweden’s Treehotel boasts an incredible array of treetop structures that range from a gorgeous mirror-walled cube suspended in the air to a glowing UFO-like construction to a giant bird’s nest. Each of the site-sensitive structures have been fabricated off-site to reduce their carbon footprint, and they all come packed with modern fixtures and furniture for a comfortable stay.
Live in the lap of luxury lofted above the forest floor at the E’terra Samara eco-resort. The 5-star hotel was designed by the Farrow Partnership and consists of twelve pre-fabricted tree-wrapping villas that have been inspired by the shape of a samara, a propeller-like seed capsule that falls from maple trees in autumn. The resort is sensitively nestled into Canada’s Bruce Peninsula forest, which is listed as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
In true Costa Rican style, the Finca Bellavista treehouse village is as eco-friendly as it is beautiful. Described as the world’s first planned, modern, sustainable, and truly arboeal treehouse community, this neighborhood nestled in a remote rainforest canopy not far from the coast, but placed far, far away from the stress and noise of the city.
Certainly an unconventional take on the classic treehouse, Tom Chudleigh’s Free Spirit Eco Spheres are hung like pendants from the treetops. Each bubble-like building has been handcrafted from fiberglass and locally sourced wood and comes equipped with electricity and heating for a cozy stay for up to four people. Available for purchase or for a short term stay, these whimsical retreats offer a unique way to experience the wilds of the Pacific Northwest.
This post is part of the GOOD community’s 50 Building Blocks of Citizenship—weekly steps to being an active, engaged global citizen. This week: Get a Passport. Follow along and join the conversation at good.is/citizenship and on Twitter at #goodcitizen.
Images courtesy of Ulf B Jonsson, E’Terra, Finca Bellavista, and Free Spirit Spheres.
