Inhabitat » PREFAB FRIDAY: Retreat to an Ewok Eco Sphere in the Trees

July 25, 2008

PREFAB FRIDAY: Retreat to an Ewok Eco Sphere in the Trees

by Haily Zaki

Ecosphere, Free spirit eco sphere, Bubble Treehouse, sphere tree house, hanging ball treehouse, Tom Chudleigh, Ewok Ecosphere, Ewok meets Aarnio

What if we told you you could own your very own Ewok-meets-Aarnio hanging treehouse? Canada-based Tom Chudleigh creates these bubblicious Free Spirit Eco Spheres that sway amidst the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Available for purchase or for rent, they offer a whimsical new way to experience the outdoors.

Ecosphere, Free spirit eco sphere, Bubble Treehouse, sphere tree house, hanging ball treehouse, Tom Chudleigh, Ewok Ecosphere, Ewok meets Aarnio

Chudleigh’s simple floating spheres are hung like pendants from the treetops. Each sphere is handcrafted from fiberglass and locally sourced wood, can accommodate up to 4 people, and is capable of accepting an electrical line for electricity and heating. A weblike support system ensures that the spheres stay stable, an they can be reached by spiral staircases wound ’round the tree trunks.

Free Spirit Eco Spheres provide for the perfect outdoor retreat; as Tom says, “they occupy a truly unique place in the world while providing a habitat for the un-tamed spirit that exists in us all.”

+ Free Spirit Eco Spheres

Ecosphere, Free spirit eco sphere, Bubble Treehouse, sphere tree house, hanging ball treehouse, Tom Chudleigh, Ewok Ecosphere, Ewok meets Aarnio

17 Responses to “PREFAB FRIDAY: Retreat to an Ewok Eco Sphere in the Trees”

clairseach Says:

July 25th, 2008 at 10:32 am

I don’t get it, these are made by a guy on Vancouver Island, BC and cost a fortune. I’ve seen the TV spots and newspaper articles. N.B. no toilet. Nice idea though.

M2JL Says:

July 25th, 2008 at 11:06 am

Impressive. It looks like a giant bird feeder. Too bad the inside isn’t more modern

ourplanetretreats Says:

July 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

An explanation to Clairsearch - “Please Understand, the photos here are fully loaded and retail at $125,000. The spheres for the retreats will be more simple and we subsidize the cost of construction” This is on the sphere section of the site. The costs of construction are a great deal less to us, as we build in developing countries. Materials and labor do not cost the same in PNG/Philippines/Vanuatu etc as they do in Canada.

changeyourself Says:

July 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

hi
this is a pretty cool design .
see how people have used bamboo for a whole strucutre as it is a fast growing bush which provides easy structure.

Acutsef Says:

July 26th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

The Design looks fabulous, and looks great positioned. However I have to question how heavy the sphere is? It appears from the photos that the support system is dependent on the trees strength, which is dynamic. Is the sphere designed as a temporary structure?

Also in regards of the ventilation, are the windows opening? or is the sphere totally sealed when the door is shut? This I feel would be a negative, especially in high humidity environments.

Other than these questions I love this concept and hopes it succeeds, I can picture these in the native forests of New Zealand.

earthsmile Says:

July 27th, 2008 at 3:17 am

Why not a grouping of hanging structures that interlink with walkways ? One module could be the bathroom module that way. It might also be better to create an artificial vertical support system, instead of using trees… and artificial ‘branches’ (I-beams… open web joists ?) Modules joined by walkways. Price each module: $15K US. Artificial central core support structure = $15K. Build out as you go. OR… use B.Fuller’s ‘tensegrity’ concept to create lightweight skeletal frame covered with multi-layered fabric/foam board/waterproof, lightweight exterior element (like keeping warm in winter with multiple layers of clothes ?). Modules like these could be very inexpensive. See B.Fuller ‘4-D’ house schematics for framing idea. make it a ‘kit of parts’. All components being stock, industrial, off the shelf components. Good luck.

morellid Says:

July 28th, 2008 at 8:16 am

“…building eco-resorts in gorgeous pristine areas…”

Anyone building a resort in a pristine area does not have nature close to her or his heart. This is definitely NOT eco-friendly development.

Please don’t fly half-way around the world to spend time in resorts in pristine areas. Do something meaningful and take a train to visit your grandparents before they die.

petradublin Says:

July 29th, 2008 at 5:54 am

I think the design is visually very pleasing but I would also worry about ventilation in such a structure in such humid tropical climates. Also some questions, as beautiful and remote as the current locations for these spheres are, how does one travel there (as a sphere owner from either Europe or the U.S.) as it stipulates you would have the right to occupancy for 70% of the time, without whacking up a bad conscience & contributing to global pollution from air travel emissions? Why not build these spheres in Europe / U.K / U.S etc where both shareholders and owners can both benefit from their renting out and also stay there themselves without the hassel? This would still benefit local communities, surely. Second question, who would maintain them throughout the year? And how? Looking forward with interest to your feedback. Petra (London)

erichansa Says:

July 31st, 2008 at 10:52 am

I think the design is a perfekt solution in forest.

The Greenwood Collective » Ewok Style Says:

July 31st, 2008 at 6:22 pm

[…] Inhabit covers the story behind these suspended Ewok balls in more detail here. […]

bleepblop Says:

July 31st, 2008 at 9:21 pm

I agree with morellid these are not “eco-friendly” at all. plus this is nothing close to an ewok village. I designed better looking tree houses than this when I was a child. Even the Swiss Family Robinson had 1 up on this design.

filbruce Says:

August 1st, 2008 at 1:13 am

If you live within the habitat of man eating bears, this would make sence.

DSkinner Says:

August 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 am

Some of the later people making comments are right. We must think of Gaia and listen to the Goracle. Encouraging people to visit pristine forests is evil. We should follow the lead of this man when building homes. If only I could be as in touch with the environment as he is. Gaia be praised.

nojodan Says:

August 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm

no me gustaria estar en una de esas bolas una noche de tormenta

SeanyM Says:

August 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 am

‘ourplanet’ is run by a guy named ryan flynn. He has created 2 ‘organisations’ in the past claiming to help children from the sex slave in asia (white orchid and living legends). since they were not working, he felt he had to use this idea which has not worked in the past, under the names travelblag and traveller, traveller 2.0, and distance his name from it.

Please google ryan flynn, with living legends, or while orchid, or traveller, or our planet

all info is compiled here:

http://webscammers.net/rfinfo/

BeatingTree Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

I definatly disagree and agreewith some ofthese comments, and i as well have some ofmy own. i disagree saying this is a non-eco friendly way. because it is true that the means of this design interfears with nature, however, what better way would we use? we live on a planet full of nature, so its either live within that nature kill of every human, or destroy nature for ourselves, which we are currently doing. if this design would be madewith bamboo that woul be excellnt, for bamboo is one of the strongest building sources. however i do like the idea of connecting tree houses with bridges, i would be concerned of storms breaking the bridges. All together i love the design, however i would be concerned about the size and fitting bed and bathroom in it.