Tree Houses: An Age Old Dream

Treehouses have existed for thousands of years and are one of the most ancient forms of architecture made by human beings, an evolution of the birds nest as it were. Nowadays, with the extreme urbanisation of the world, the tree house has made a re-entry; it's a sort of symbol, giving voice to our need to hold on to our deep roots with nature. In 2008 the Japanese artist, Tadashi Kawamata, installed tree huts in New York's Central Park. In July, 2010 he was invited by the Pompidou Museum in Paris to create something special. On the otherwise metallic structure of the Pompidou Museum Kawamata installed huts. The tubular framework of the museum, suggestive more of an oil refinery than a forest, has substituted for trees.

Even more than a link to nature, tree houses are a means to keep alive a dream -the kind of dream that most every kid has. Spending a night or two in a tree is to dwell in the spirit of youth.