Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Beautiful Biomimicry: Treehouses Look Like Part of the Trees

Posted: 11 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT

treehouse looks like part of tree

Treehouses, once thought of as play areas for kids only, have finally come into their own as grown-up play places and residences. The Embryo Treehouse from Antony Gibbon Designs is a beautifully designed treehouse that looks like it grew from the tree itself.

treehouse on trunk of tree

The Embryo Treehouse takes that biomimicry a step further by looking like it is an organic part of the tree. The two-story elevated house resembles a burl or natural growth on the tree. Cedar shingles help the house blend into its surroundings. Windows come in three different sizes and can be arranged in a way that will allow in as much natural light as the building site allows.

biomimicry embryo tree house

The name Embryo refers to a stage in the life cycle of organic creatures. It is meant to affirm our connection to the natural world, embracing the idea that as a whole, we could stand to be much closer to nature.

natural-looking treehouse

You enter the house via a drop-down staircase and a hatch door. Once inside, a spiral staircase wraps around the interior wall, connecting the first and second floors. This configuration helps to maximize the available floor space on both levels. A total of eight people can sleep comfortably in this suspended nature-inspired home.

nature-friendly embryo treehouse

Of course, a love of nature wouldn’t mean anything if the treehouse caused harm to the tree to which it is attached. The Embryo attaches to the tree using a set of braces that allow the tree to continue growing without damaging the bark.


    

Fancifully Fake: Warhol-Colored Wood-Grain Floor Tiles

Posted: 10 Sep 2013 04:24 PM PDT

colorful wood grain tile

A lot of building materials are cheap or durable lookalikes, leading to that disappointing realization you are not walking on a real granite or hardwood floor. These tiles, by contrast, make no attempt to fool anyone, and celebrate their role as visual analogs.

colorful tile applications

colorful tile

Made of porcelain and inspired by artist Andy Warhol, these tile come in lime green, pastel pink and other bright and distinct colors no one could possibly mistake for wood, despite the grain patterns imprinted upon them.

colorful stairs floors walls

Available from 14 Ora Italiana, these tiles are made for floors but are also fit for other applications, including walls, backsplashes and staircases where they can serve as accent materials and colors against plainer surroundings.

colorful black white brown

And for those not so sure about the hot color schemes, there are black and white ones too. As for those who are fine with a bit of fakery, well, they do off wood-colored ones too.


    

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