Will the Humble ‘HemLoft’ Survive?

A tree house in Canada recently hit the headlines, as its builder finally decided to share its existence with a well-known design magazine. Whether or not this was a good idea is somewhat debatable.

The ‘HemLoft’ was built by Joel Allen, and is an intriguing egg shaped home situated in a hemlock tree. However it is illegally built, as it is constructed on Crown land in British Columbia in Canada, and in an area renowned for its expensive real estate. The actual whereabouts of the tree house is still unknown, and it even managed to evade detection during the tight security imposed during the 2010 Olympic Games, but its designer and builder is still worried that he could be forced to take it down, if it’s found.

Joel originally came up with the idea for the tree house back in 2006 after he lost his job and discovered an interest in sleeping in strange outdoor places, but he didn’t want a traditional design. It took several years to complete before being finally finished last August.

Apparently support for the tree house is growing within the local community in Whistler, and Joel is asking the public to vote on the fate of the project. The choices range from being able to purchase the land from the government, to opening it up to the public, to tearing it down completely. It is certainly a nice looking structure, and is in keeping with the natural surroundings, but it is difficult to imagine local government agreeing to it remaining in place…if they can find it.