Created by some of the world’s most talented architects and designers, contemporary treehouse designs go well beyond a simple wooden structure nestled among branches. These designs also take the concept of a children’s fort or playroom and adapt it to living spaces, family retreats in the middle of nature, and even hotel rooms suspended above the ground. All of them have at least one thing in common: they provide a sheltered space away from everything but firmly embedded into the natural world. A space where inhabitants can relax and live in a relaxed, tranquil setting.

Treehouse designs vary widely, from more traditional to minimalist or futuristic. Concepts for eco-friendly living combine the closeness to nature of a treehouse with the convenience of modular systems. These living spaces can grow and adapt to different needs, changing over the years with the families they shelter. Other treehouses provide a welcome respite from city living. These designs include hotel rooms with spectacular views or minimalist, almost spartan retreats that put the focus on slow living and on immersing guests into the surrounding nature. Inspired by birds’ nests, some treehouse designs have an organic and sculptural aesthetic that looks striking yet completely at home in a forest.

Suspended on pillars or nestled among tall trees, these structures offer a different perspective on the surrounding landscape. Located in places as varied as the Arctic Circle, in the middle of a pine forest, the picturesque Italian countryside with rolling hills and vineyards, or close to a mountain stream, treehouses and their interior spaces provide the opportunity to enjoy a deeper connection to nature.