Tribewanted: Vorovoro

We’ve talked about treehouses before, and I know that an ambitious second floor was added to the one that was first built in March 07, but these employee houses at Verana hotel in Mexico just blew my mind:

http://www.been-seen.com/article.cfm?id=10531
http://www.archdaily.com/3762/v-houses-heinz-legler/

An amazing jungle retreat near the fishing village of Yelapa, this rustic-modern aesthetic hotel was designed by Heinz Legler, who used to own a film set construction company and Veronique Lievre, previously a set decorator, from Paris.

The idea to build the ‘outlooks’ came from Jo Scheer who had build his ‘hoochs’ in Puerto Rico and Oregon using mainly Bamboo or Douglas fir poles. With basically no environmental impact or foot print, the structures can be built on any type of surface condition. Flat ground, steep hills, lots of vegetation, trees, water, sand or whatever else might be in the way for any other design or construction.

With 16’ off the ground they also created an instant spectacular view where there normally wouldn’t be one. And the V-houses were prefabricated in Puerto Vallarta and delivered by boat and carried up the hill. No machinery, no heavy duty equipment needed.

While I know we don’t want our little paradise to turn into a spa, I love the idea of really considering alternate ways to build shelter. Something like this could be adapted and perhaps would be suitable in spots that wouldn’t work for traditional bure or vale type places. Just provoking some thought as an architecture junkie…