Skip to main content

No trees were harmed in the designing of this eco-friendly treehouse

It certainly won’t be cheap, but this $2.45 million eco-friendly treehouse concept may give architects some inspiration for the future of home building. Designed by civil engineer Anthony Leung, the treehouse incorporates sustainable concepts to work with — rather than against — nature.

“I have been doing research in looking for sustainable means to work with, rather than against, the nature, to improve the resilience of civil engineering infrastructure, combating against the negative impact brought by the irreversible environmental change,” Leung told Digital Trends. “My recent research interest is to look at how the presence of mature trees could adversely induce subsidence, hence structural integrity, of adjacent low-story buildings.”

Recommended Videos

Leung wanted to change the conventional perspective that sees trees as the “enemy,” things to be cut down and dug up. “In this context, I was wondering why we, as engineers, couldn’t more intelligently work with nature to build a more harmonic built environment — like the eco-treehouse.” he said.

In his concept, Leung used living trees as support columns and to provide shade. Grass along the roof would help regulate temperature and rainwater runoff, which would be directed to a small wastewater treatment plant to be recycled for later use. To ensure minimal impact to the natural surroundings, no wood would be removed to make space. And, although the treehouse seems futuristic, Leung pointed out that many of the concepts he incorporated are already being employed elsewhere.

“Green roofs and climbing plants have been researched for years and have actually been applied quite widely in many parts of the Europe including the United Kingdom,” he said. “Other features, such as integrating tree trunks as part of the structural components of a house and coupling plant physiological responses to air ventilation system, however, are more complex subjects.”

Leung doesn’t expect his concept to actually be built but hopes that it inspires architects and engineers to explore more sustainable methods. “The point of developing this concept is to demonstrate how we can borrow the power of nature to create natural shelter for human beings in a modern, yet ecologically friendly way,” he said.

Dyllan Furness
Former Contributor
Dyllan Furness is a freelance writer from Florida. He covers strange science and emerging tech for Digital Trends, focusing…
Samsung Memorial Day sale: The best washer, dryer, and refrigerator deals
Samsung front-load washer and dryer set in chapagne finish in a laundry room.

The Samsung Memorial Day sale is finally online, so now's the perfect time to make some upgrades in your home. The brand, which is known for making some of the best phones and best TVs, is also a reliable name in the world of appliances, including washer, dryers, and refrigerators. No matter your budget and the amount of space you have, something will surely catch your eye in this year's Memorial Days deals for Samsung appliances.

You can take a look at all the home appliances that are on sale for Memorial Day from Samsung through the link below, but we've also highlighted our recommendations below if you want to finish your purchase quickly. That's actually a good idea, because we're not sure how much longer stocks will remain available. You shouldn't wait until the last minute of these Samsung Memorial Day deals before you proceed with your transaction, as you'll be in danger of missing out.

Read more
How to use the robotic arm of the Roborock Saros Z70
The Saros Z70 picking up a sock.

While the Roborock Saros Z70 didn’t exactly live up to the hype, there’s no denying its robotic arm is still a cool piece of technology. Capable of picking up small objects in its path, moving them to a new location, then continuing its cleaning process, the Saros Z70 and its robotic arm might be the coolest feature we’ve ever seen in a robot vacuum. But how exactly does it work? And what are the robotic arm’s limitations?

Here’s a closer look at how to use the robotic arm of the Roborock Saros Z70 and ways you can improve its performance.
Limitations of the Roborock Saros Z70’s robotic arm

Read more
The new Blink Video Doorbell offers two-year battery life, person detection
Close up of Blink Video Doorbell

The Blink Video Doorbell is a popular choice for frugal shoppers, and its next-generation successor is looking to follow in its footsteps. Available today, the new Blink Video Doorbell offers a remarkable two-year battery life, an improved field of view, a reworked design, and the low price of just $70.

If you’ve ever been shopping for an affordable video doorbell, you’ve probably stumbled upon the old Blink Video Doorbell. Available for just $60, it was a great alternative to premium devices from Nest and Ring. Blink is looking to build on that success with the new Video Doorbell. Its price has crept up $10, but it also picked up some nice new features. The biggest improvement is its field of view -- it’s been enhanced to a 150-degree head-to-toe perspective, compared to the 135-degree horizontal view of its predecessor.

Read more