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"Out of the box, and above it all"
"World's Greatest Treehouse"- Travel Channel
The hooch is an evolutionary, revolutionary building system that turns archtectural conventions on its head. It stands on a single point, and maintains its balance by a web of cables to the surrounding trees. The foundation is minimal. In fact, the hooch holds the record for the smallest foundation of any land based building. The advantage? Minimal disruption of the site, and environment; quick and economical construction (no foundation); and easy dismantling, in the event that the hooch is moved. The hooch is an ideal structure for a place of respite in an environmentally sensitive area. I built a 10' by 10' version for a friend along a riverbank. The site did not lose one fern, a species abundant in the understory of the forest.
The treehouse requires no special engineering, or architectural design to
fit in a particular tree. It stands among the trees, and relies on them for
support. It is intimately entwined with the trees, and yet does no damage or
requires any alteration of the site. The design has been worked out for quick
and accurate pre-fabrication of the components- away from the site. Quickly
assembled and situated at the site, the hooch is raised up by a pulley system
and secured -perfectly level.
An architectural gem, the triangular shape maintains rigidity, yet is free to
move about its foundation , flexing as a unit. The redundant cable system is
self correcting- any stress or distortion is quickly relieved back to the original
position.
As a place of respite, the hooch served its purpose well- whether in the backyard,
or along a mountain stream. It is safe, secure, and above it all.
After a warm reception of every hooch I've built, I now offer plans, kits, and
complete construction services for everyone. I have plans and specs for a 6'
by 6 , 8' by 8', and 10' by 10' version (floor area). Our 6' by 6' backyard
hooch served well in our backyard of a rental house. Last year, we moved to
our new mortgaged house. The hooch proved itself as a ephemeral architectural
gem. It was dismantled, and moved in a few days. It now has its place among
a grove of douglas fir trees, with a killer view of Mt. Ashland. Check out these
other sites for even more perspective on the hooch.
A Path
to Ecotectural Awareness- the Hooch
Sleeping Amongst Bamboos (El Nueva Dia article)
Life in
the Sustainable Treetops - Metropolis magazine
Up, up, and away (Homelife magazine)
Hooch News:
Utilizing Google Sketch-up software, the 2D graphic shown here can be viewed from all perspectives and at any distance in 3D! You can click on the image to go to the Google 3D library and the 3D hooch. If you do not have the software, it is a free download. This is very powerful stuff. You can cruise through the hooch, climb the stairs, see the interior, be inside. The model is a 10' by 10' version.
A new hooch was erected in Sonoma, near Geyserville, in the summer of 2005.
Overlooking a pond amidst a grove of douglas fir and oak, the hooch fit
very snugly. The new owners, George and Yvonne, love it, and they said so, for
the DIY network that documented the very exciting installation process.
The show aired in July, 2006. The hooch will compliment a new custom built,
environmentally sensitive house designed by Darrel Deboer. Check out this link:
Deboer architects
September, 2005 - A new timber-frame hooch design is introduced. The complete
hooch is built using dimensional lumber only. No poles needed! And, the ultimate
hooch, a 12' by 12', is also available, either as a pole design or timber framed.
See "Details and Specs" below.
October, 2005 - The hooch "lite" version of the bamboo hooch was erected at Mercer Arboretum this fall for the American Bamboo Society annual meeting, October 20-22, 2005. (See the pic)Meanwhile, a full size, 8' by 8' hooch was erected on the banks of the Little River for Kinder Chambers - president of the Texas Bamboo Society. With help from Kinder, Pete Fust (blackrangelodge.com), and Mary Len, the hooch was completed on schedule, October 28, 2005. See the pic
November/December, 2005 - A six week building project was completed on the Tropical Treehouse grounds. A new 8' by 8' hooch was erected, next to the newly tiled and renovated soaking tub (formerly a cattle watering tub). A new Flash slide show of the new hooch, and all the other abodes at the Tropical Treehouse can be seen here . (turn up the volume, and view with a full screen)
February/March, 2006 - A total immersion CAD learning session was conducted under the tutorship of one Darrel Deboer. Though barely scratching the surface of computer drawing, we managed to produce a CAD version of a proposed all bamboo hooch to be erected in Costa Rica. Subsequently, a trip to Costa Rica, under the auspices of Rancho Mastatal , The Firestone Center for Restorative Ecology , and Darrel Deboer , produced the completed, first ever all bamboo hooch. With a floor area of 12' by 12', it is also the largest hooch ever built. For a brief pictorial summation of the experience, check out the pics here .
April, 2006 - A feasiblity study has been initiated for the hooch as a possible safe dwelling for residents of areas susceptible to tsunamis. The recent tsunami disaster, and the likelihood of future tsunamis, has generated research among relief organizations as to how to best rebuild the devastated areas of Indonesia and prevent or at least ameliorate the damage of inevitable future tsunamis. The "Tsunami Ark" uses local bamboo to build tsunami resilient hooches high above the potential wave. The porous nature of the hooch pole structure, and a breakaway foundation will allow the hooch structures to dissipate the energy of the wave, and ride the wave.
see the proposed structure here
Check out the websites at: www.electriclamb.org/AFP/
and: www.island-aid.org
July, 2006 - A return visit to Sid & Eileen Erickson's hooch in Venice
Beach, CA was a successful retrofit. The previous poles, B. beechyana, had a
major infection of bamboo beetles- an infection that the high starch content
of the species provokes. Otherwise, it is a strong, straight, and available
bamboo (we harvested the poles from the Jerry Bruckheimer estate in Brentwood).
After three years, though still strong, the bamboo was clearly deteriorated.
Each pole was replaced with certified, sustainably harvested Douglar fir poles
from Southern Oregon. The replacement process was completed in less than two
weeks, with plenty of time to bike the beach, and enjoy a multitude of other
activities. A great time. Some pics of the renovation can be seen here.
July , 2006- The hooch was featured on the DIY network. The program. Assembly
Required, features pre-fabricated buildings, and the hooch as a pre-fabricated
treehouse. The new Sonoma hooch, the Eugene hooch, and our backyard hooch factory
all were included in the video sessions.
August, 2007- Verana resort, verana.com, has launched an ambitious project utilyzing the hooch concept for their employee housing. Overlooking the bay on the Pcific coast of Mexico, they are building a complex of five hooches- three for private residence, one for communal kitchen, and one for the communal bathroom. All this is conected via aboveground walkways. See the pictures of the construction they have taken so far here
Flash Slide Show (for all the true believers out there)
I'd be happy to answer any and all inquiries. E-mail
me at: [email protected]
