I think treehouses are a part of every person’s childhood in one way or another, whether or not they actually had one in their backyard. I didn’t, but I had a friend who did, and a group of us would spend countless afternoons holed up in there, eating stuff we shouldn’t and talking about ghosts that we thought actually existed. Eventually, we outgrew the treehouse–both figuratively and literally–but there was a point in time where we actually wanted to live in one.
Taking treehouses one step further is Ethan Schlussler of Sandpoint, Idaho, who built a bicycle-powered treehouse elevator because he got tired of having to climb a ladder to get to his 30-foot something treehouse.
Ethan explains: “It was originally a 20-something speed bicycle, but first gear wasn’t slow enough, so I cut the large sprocket off the front, and welded it on the rear to get a lower gear. I also had to do away with the de-railers and make a new chain tensioner.” He adds that he’s planning to build walls and insulate his treehouse in a few weeks, as he plans to actually sleep or even live in it eventually.
VIA [ Geekologie ]