Burl Treehouse

In a world where sustainability and design are increasingly intertwined, few architects have embraced the natural world as fluidly - and fearlessly - as architectural designer Antony Gibbon. Known for his sculptural forms that often seem plucked from dreams or mythology, Gibbon's Burl Treehouse is one of his most compelling proposals to date: a pod-like dwelling that balances above the forest floor, blurring the line between home and habitat.

Inspired by the organic growths known as 'burls' that form on tree trunks - those bulbous, twisted knots that emerge with time and resilience - Gibbon's treehouse doesn't imitate nature. It reflects it, respects it and somehow enhances it. Each pod is spherical and suspended, either on stilts or tethered to nearby trees with minimal anchoring. The result is a tree house that seems to float weightlessly between the branches, more like a forest creature than a man-made shelter.

From the outside, the Burl Treehouse looks almost prehistoric: a dark shell of Shou Sugi Ban-style charred wooden shingles wraps the hull in a protective armour, allowing it to disappear into the shadows of the canopy. But step inside and you're met with something very different. Light floods in through a large circular window, creating a soft glow against the pale wood interior - often ash or cedar - which makes the space feel warm and modern, never austere.

The layout is minimal but deliberate, with a built-in double bed, shelving and storage subtly integrated into the curved walls, and a compact en-suite bathroom. Though intimate in scale, nothing feels cramped. What if more space is needed? The pods can be linked modularly to create clusters of treehouses linked by bridges or shared terraces - ideal for eco-resorts or extended off-grid stays.

More than just a design exercise, the Burl Treehouse is a vision of sustainable, forward-thinking living. Constructed from renewable materials and designed to leave a gentle footprint, the aim is not to dominate the forest but to become part of it. It's an invitation to live above the noise and within the silence, surrounded by birdsong, filtered light and a constant reminder of nature's complexity.

Although the Burl Treehouse remains a conceptual project, its influence is tangible. It is circulating widely on design platforms and in sustainable architecture journals, sparking imaginations of what hospitality - and housing - might look like when aligned with ecological priorities. Gibbon has said that the aim is not just to design beautiful buildings, but to reconnect people with the planet in a way that is tangible, livable and deeply felt.

For travellers, designers and dreamers alike, the Burl Treehouse offers more than a place to stay - it proposes a new way of being in the world: lighter, quieter and a little closer to the sky.