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January 15, 2008

Indoor-outdoor trees

For the most part, I'm an outdoor gardener. We have a few succulents indoors but that's about it.

Now, though, I'm looking at houses and thinking about architecture. I'm wondering if anybody out there has experience with rooms that surround a specimen tree. Is it reasonable to design a house around a specimen tree that doesn't exist yet (i.e, that needs to be planted)? Or does the hoped-for specimen tend not to pan out, as with so many of my outdoor trees? Are there architects or builders that specialize in rooms like this? What are the implications for tree growth and access to water? Does the room need to be built on a platform that protects the soil? Are these rooms troublesome to maintain?

I'd also be interested to hear examples of famous houses that surround beautiful trees.

A little bit of searching turned up a couple of interesting links. Mitchell Joachim explains his vision for a house constructed from living ficus trees here. Freshome has a great roundup of cool treehouse designs here. But, in truth, these are much more ambitious ideas than those I'm asking about above. I don't want a house that is made out of a tree, I just want a house that incorporates a tree.

January 15, 2008 in Conifers | Permalink

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Comments

The tops of my pine trees turn brown. Why do they do this. Is there any way to tell how a pine tree is without cutting it down and looking at the rings?

Posted by: ME | Feb 10, 2008 8:14:56 AM


I never knew how pretty these trees look. I live in Florida, and I think that the trees you post on your site are beautiful. We have pine trees here, but they are not like the ones you show on this site.

God Bless you, and your website.

Posted by: Christopher | Feb 10, 2008 11:59:43 AM

hey ME, you should be able to take a core sample of the tree and count the rings running horizontally. I'm sure you can find the tool at an outdoors or specialized garden store. It looks like an extra large hypodermic needle with a t handle on the end. good luck!

Posted by: chris | Feb 11, 2008 9:29:03 AM

Shoot you have some very nice tree's. I love tree's mainly for the fact that they provide nice homes for the birds that I feed. They are also very important to any landscaping ;after all they help us breath cleaner air and provide shade in the summer. I would love a free pkt of seeds and be included on your mailing list. Thanks so very much Misty Morrison

Posted by: Misty Morrison | Feb 11, 2008 4:20:11 PM

I almost purchased a home that had a huge palm tree growing in the entryway and had been accomodated by a hole in the roof. I was concerned about the elements being able to enter through said hole so I passed on the house - I absolutely loved the idea though and wish I had taken the chance.

Posted by: Diana | Feb 13, 2008 9:18:18 AM

Thank you , your comments will realy help in the future , when I finally get to planting ....... ;)

Posted by: Scott D. Hubble | Feb 17, 2008 7:45:48 PM

I love the pics you have posted! They are gorgeous. I love trees and can't wait to plant some.

Posted by: Heather Guptill | Feb 18, 2008 8:02:14 AM

I can't wait to plant some trees!

Posted by: kristi lloyd | Feb 24, 2008 2:34:52 AM

WOW!!!!!! I found a site for FREE tree seeds, this is great!! Thanks!!!

Posted by: Linda | Mar 10, 2008 10:10:22 PM

I remember my father telling me about a job where he delicately removed a tree from inside a home that was overgrown. He enjoyed the challenge but thought having a tree growing inside a house was crazy, LOL.

Posted by: Marj | Mar 23, 2008 11:16:08 AM

WOW!!!! Was surfing the net and came across this site. I have NEVER seen someone who plants as many tree's as you do!

Posted by: James | Mar 27, 2008 8:45:15 AM

Hi... where do you buy sequoia seeds now? I can't find them on J. L. Hudson
thanks!
Luca

Posted by: luca | Feb 16, 2009 9:11:02 AM

I vaguely recall a great uncle, who was an artist, having a tree growing in the middle of his house. I'll have to confirm that story. His wife was a belly dancer, and the bathtub had a hand sculpture that the water ran through.

I suppose the danger in that is what happens when the tree grows?

Loving the site! any ideas on good trees to plant in north texas?

Posted by: K. J. Segertrask | Mar 6, 2009 11:47:05 PM

With the recent freezes in central Florida, I am wondering what is the best way to repair the plants to make sure that they survive.

Posted by: Tom | Mar 7, 2009 6:46:52 AM

I have seen two houses with atriums in the middle. One was a Spanish style where the house surrounds the large patio. The other had a 6x6 atrium with a tall leafy tree growing; it had a small door so the owner could sit and read under her tree. Very clever and cozy.

Posted by: A Ng | Mar 7, 2009 7:52:32 AM

There is something about having trees in and around your home, especially after a LONG winter, that is just purely refreshing. We recently moved to the "city" from the country and I miss the green. I am trying to bring the outside in and also planting some trees in our small yard.

Posted by: Eryn Nicekrs | Mar 7, 2009 9:11:18 AM

What a great concept a house that incorporates a tree. There is a similar concept of a small indoor garden at the center of the house with the rooms surrounding the same. It cools the entire house. SOmething like this - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6SBviae1JUo/R5OCdDBKEZI/AAAAAAAABHs/jk5P3kAEDMw/s1600-h/9aa.jpg

Posted by: Jo | Mar 7, 2009 10:21:39 AM

Great article about conifers.

Posted by: Patti Troutwine | Mar 7, 2009 6:45:06 PM

i have an indoor aloe plant and it is rottening at the base by the dirt i thought it was to much water and i went for two weeks without watering and it is still doing it

Posted by: karen | Mar 7, 2009 8:43:35 PM

I may try this this summer...Truly unique. When i was a kid i played under one tree and never thought to build a house around it.

Posted by: Tricia Hall | Mar 8, 2009 10:41:48 AM

Thanks for the info here.

Posted by: Tina Barnaby | Mar 8, 2009 12:46:24 PM

Seems like dry across the country. The golden hills of Northern California will stay that way longer.

Posted by: Dwight Jones | Mar 8, 2009 3:34:15 PM

I hope I can get something to grow!

Posted by: michele nolen | Mar 8, 2009 5:42:32 PM

As long as a significant potion of the tree can get natural light, then I don't see a problen with building a house around a tree.

Posted by: Todd Davis | Mar 8, 2009 7:49:45 PM

I love planting and garderning but I have zero green thumb my husband is more of and expect especially at bonsais'

Posted by: Daisy Shepard | Mar 9, 2009 1:34:59 AM

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