Five of the best palaces in the trees
When one thinks of treehouses, one generally imagines pretty rudimentary creations built out of old boards and bits of rope. Now, though, treehouses are becoming more and more extravagant. As individuals such as J. K. Rowling and the Duchess of Northumberland construct vast palaces in the trees in their gardens, The Steeple Times examines five of the best:
The world’s tallest treehouse – The Minister’s House, Crossville, Tennessee, USA
The world’s largest treehouse was built as a testament to God. The man who spent 11 years creating this 10,000 square foot structure, Horace Burgess, states: “I was praying one day, and the Lord said, If you build me a treehouse, I’ll see you never run out of material”. Constructed using recycled materials and 258,000 nails, this vast residence cost just $12,000 to build. It features a “space for worship” complete with a basketball hoop.
The Treehouses at Chewton Glen, New Forest, Hampshire, UK
Completed in 2012 in the grounds of the five star Chewton Glen Hotel at a cost of £7 million, 12 luxurious treehouse suites have been constructed amongst the tree canopies of a wooded valley. A midweek stay for two including a treatment, dinner, bed and breakfast starts at £600 per night.
Blue Forest treehouse for the Irvine family
British company Blue Forest specialise in “sustainable buildings and luxury treehouses”. An example of their works is one that they built for the Irvine family in Surrey. Featuring a bespoke kitchen, large deck and a network of rope bridges, Jennifer Irvine, who runs The Pure Package diet delivery service, uses the treehouse to host dinners for The Prince’s Trust. This truly must be the world’s most regal treehouse.
Treehouse at 128 East 93rd Street, Carnegie Hill, New York, USA
The only treehouse in Manhattan stands 14 foot high. It has electricity and miniature furniture and comes complete with a 4,732 square foot clapboard $10,500,000 million mansion that is currently for sale through Wendy Sarasohn of the Corcoran Group. Of it, the current owner, Cynthia “C.C.” Rivera, ex-wife of Geraldo at Large and Fox News presenter Geraldo Rivera, comments: “[When we bought the house, my daughters] thought it looked like Stuart Little lived in the treehouse. We loved it. They’d have tea parties there with their friends”.
Treehouse at Springfield House, Corbridge, Northumberland, UK
The purchaser of this £3,995,000 renovated Victorian residence in 2.9 acres will get not only views of the Tyne Valley, but also a twin treehouse built by the same company who created The Alnwick Garden Treehouse for the Duchess of Northumberland. This timber construction includes low level decks and a connecting bridge.
– Read more about The Minister’s House at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123686/Worlds-tallest-tree-house-reaches-stories-high.html
– The Treehouses at Chewton Glen: http://www.chewtonglen.com/tree-house-suites/index.aspx
– Blue Forest Treehouses: http://www.blueforest.com, The Pure Package: http://www.purepackage.com
– 128 East 93rd Street, New York,: http://www.corcoran.com/nyc/Listings/Display/2525381
– Details for Springfield House: http://www.sandersonyoung.co.uk/property/view/springfield_house_spoutwell_lane
Ecletic subjects for discussion is what I love about the Steeples Times. I thought the turret with Gothic style windows was in Scotland, so not too far off. If we’d had children, we’d have built such a tree house ( not on the scale of these beauties) so my husband could play in it and pretend it was only for the children !
These are wonderful!
The first one you have profiled is impressive both in grandeur and closest to my view of ‘treehouse’, of course, the twin one is a close runner up for the double the pleasure of treehouse fun
I like the one at Chewton Glen because you can actually stay there. I’ve got no hope of getting inside the others or building my own but I’d love to stay in a luxury treehouse like that.
The idea to own treehouses is a global heritage plus a real challenge.