Timbered 'Treehouse'
Architect’s backyard on Peaks Island. The kid asks for a swing from a tree limb. A simple request.
Project Details
Location:
Peaks Island, Maine
Structural Architects:
Builder:
Winkelman and Family
Photography:
Winkelman
Recognition
Design Concepts
The plastic seat is purchased from Toys-R-Everybody for $15. No limb on “the” tree is found to be sufficient for hanging swing from. The architect’s parent suggests building an artificial limb: 6×6 hemlock timber, strapped into the crotch of the tree trunk, supported with irregular diagonals at the far side. Funky, but works.
Phase 2: The Kid says nice, but how about a treehouse too…
More 6×6 hemlock timbers are cantilevered past and over, using the now-existing timbered diagonal legs and limbs. The “swing-house” evolves outboard of the swing area. Spruce decking is applied for a floor and part of the rails, along with some corrugated fiberglass roofing at an edge. A diagonal timber leg is spiked with wooden pegs as a jungle-gym ladder for access.