A tree will take a lot of things. I've been hiking deep in forests before when someone showed me a tree which must have been modified a hundred years before to have a limb loop in a circle, then point a direction.

Now I ponder bending branches, curving around paned widows

The quiet within. The satisfaction of making a thermally inhabitable treehouse
-- Zimmy, Feb 12 2012

Unbeweavable! http://arborsmith.com/
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 12 2012]

Something like these, perhaps http://dornob.com/o...ding-designs-ideas/
It is what it says on the box. [Alterother, Feb 12 2012]

DIY treehouse inventor creates Ewok world in rural Oregon http://www.youtube....edded&v=K7aVLMZvNEQ
[jaksplat, Feb 15 2012]

Reminds me of http://xkcd.com/212/

But wouldn't the branches keep growing and eventually shatter that glass? Need something less rigid for windows.
-- Psalm_97, Feb 12 2012


... Or more rigid. A heavy steel frame would do. Shaping trees for tree-houses is an old idea, but a good one.
-- spidermother, Feb 12 2012


If a tree were topped and a suitably rugged basket made from outward-facing channel iron* (structural steel members shaped like this ] in profile), the branches could be trained to grow along the channels without squeezing too much. The basket would have to be properly gussetted and buttressed to prevent it from folding up, especially under the downward pressure from interior installations. Provided constant pruning were kept up, the habitation could be kept weather-tight and encroaching branches could be turned outward long before they caused any damage. Just putting a roof on it would tend to send most branches outward anyway--trees grow toward the sun.

This would take elaborate planning and constant, bonsai- ish upkeep, but a fully-habitable 'grown-in' treehouse is entirely feasable, and I like it. It would also have to be done with a very sturdy hardwood like an oak, chesnut, or willow. I doubt a maple or beech would support it without slowly bending. This makes it more of a multigenerational project rather than a weekend DIY.

I'll give it a nice green bun, even though it's been baked before, albeit in different ways.

[+] for gratuitous tree mutilation! (The tree doesn't care, as long as it gets to keep growing)

* <later> On further considerations, aluminium channel and associated structural members would be much better-- lighter, non-corrosive, and prettier. Just don't make any plans for a granite hearth in the great hall or a baby grand in the parlor.
-- Alterother, Feb 12 2012


(+) [bristolz] added this arborsmith [link] to my Treethedral idea.
I figured you'd like it too.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 12 2012


All maintenance would have to be preventative though, looking far ahead to where the branches will be in the future. Once a branch pokes through you'll have to cut it off, which will leave a hole that probably won't grow back together.
-- Psalm_97, Feb 12 2012


[+] I want one! In springtime it is a must to have flowering branches!
-- xandram, Feb 14 2012


You would not need to be so patient with bamboo.
-- bungston, Feb 14 2012


2fries, I tried to search for the treethedral, but alas, alak! I am in too stupid a state as when I posted the idea to find it with a search.

Either that or my phone is - i'm not sure at this point. All my searches seem to arive at "recent"
-- Zimmy, Feb 15 2012


Wierd.
It's the same as your idea but using an entire grove of trees braided into one another for the next few centuries to make the structure.

On a side note, we are selling off our house and businesses to buy a piece of land here soon. I plan to start this in my spare time next spring or the one after that.
When I asked the Magic Eight-ball if it would work it read;
It Is Deciduously So.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 15 2012


Who am I?
-- Alterother, Feb 16 2012


Why am I?
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 16 2012


You're not, I am!
-- Alterother, Feb 16 2012


Sam?
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 16 2012


Heading to Saltspring or Thetis Islands or some other "arty" place I hope [2 Fries]. Make sure they have Internet.
-- AusCan531, Feb 16 2012


Will do.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 16 2012



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