What Will Be the Fate of This ‘Secret,’ Egg-Shaped and Illegal Treehouse in the Canadian Woods?
- Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:00pm by
Liz Klimas
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For several months, Joel Allen has been secretly dwelling among multi-million dollar homes in Whistler, Canada. But his home cost less than some used cars and it’s not exactly legal. According to the Daily Mail, Allen is living a modern-day Swiss Family Robinson lifestyle — minus all the children — in an egg-shaped “self-funded” creation.
On his well put together website — he’s a trained computer technician — Allen explains that his treehouse was unknown except for by a few friends — until recently. The treehouse dubbed “The HemLoft” is described as “an experimental orb deep in the woods, with no electrical power.”
HemLoft (Photo: Flickr/runthesundown)
In an elaborate tale of how he went from computer-savvy graduate to self-taught carpenter, Allen describes how the “egg in a tree” was born out of a friend’s initial design and locating the “perfect” tree for it. This ended up being near “a new neighborhood of multi-million dollar mega-homes under construction.”
As you might expect, what Allen planned on doing was illegal — and he knew it as he describes several instances in his building process how he managed to avoid being seen by locals or authorities as he was towing materials to and fro. But he moved forward with building location anyway. The story moves forward with getting construction going; an interruption to travel to Slovenia; meeting a woman in Canada named Heidi who would become his life partner; and eventually gleaning $10,000 worth of materials he needed to finish his already $6,500 project from the Craigslist free section.
(Photo: Flickr/runthesundown)
(Photo: Flickr/runthesundown)
As of August 2011, the treehouse became relatively livable. The project itself began in 2008. Here’s what Allen said about the experience of going to live in the treetop egg after working on it for so long:
When Heidi and I arrived there, it was a surreal feeling to be walking through the woods with a suitcase, instead of an armful of planks. Since starting work on the HemLoft, it was an uninhabitable construction zone and I had only slept there a handful of times. Now we were actually going to live in it! After a day or two of settling in, we felt like we were in the lap of luxury. We had a bounty of showering options in nearby waterfalls and lakes, and, if the need arose, there were plenty of unused hottubs in the neighborhood.
Check out this footage of the treetop abode — and how he manages to live in the woods:
Allen’s story became not-so-secret when he caught a big break after submitting his design to Dwell Magazine and also was published this month by Adventure Journal. It was at this point he says he began to consider the fate of his once secret hideaway. At first it seems Allen thinks only of the potential visitors seeking him out to view the space, but he does later acknowledge that the egg is built in a tree on public land owned by the government. Here’s are his thoughts on that:
It took a lot of work to build it, and I’d rather not take it down, just yet. So I’ve been thinking of ways to expose the HemLoft, while somehow making it legal. To the best of my knowledge, Squatting on Whistler Mountain, beneath some of Western Canada’s most luxurious mega-homes would not be looked favourably upon. However, I’ve thought of a few ideas that might be…
(Photo: Flickr/runthesundown)
Ideas include taking it down; making a “geo-catching” game for people to find it; making it a campsite; or trying to purchase the land on which the tree resides.
What do you think of Allen’s interesting but still illegal contraption?
There are many more details to Allen’s story. Read the whole thing here. Check out more photos on the site’s Flickr account here.
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Comments (123)
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:57pmHe’s got way too much time on his hands. It’s a tree house for the 1%ers. I thought of doing the same only on a grander scale, waterproof, electric and water and a little more room, while not subject to he damages of tree growth and rot. I call it “a house”.
Report Post »janedough1
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:29amTrees may grow from the top, and not from the bottom, but they add to their girth as well. It won’t be long before it bursts that egg like a chick hatching from its shell. I had friends who built their deck around the trees on their homesite, and in twelve years they were in danger of bursting the deck. They had left way more room around them than this guy has. That tree will quickly push that little egg apart.
Not only that, but he is showing no respect for private property, if he is using hot tubs without permission. He’s also not showing any respect for public property. That makes it kinda hard to tell if he’s a capitalist (who would respect private property), a communist/socialist (who would respect government property), or just a common thug who respects nothing, but happens to have a degree and a veneer of social acceptability.
Report Post »palmettopalflorida
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:52pmHow dare this man attempt to live the unaccountable life! I thought that this kind of thinking was eradicated by Federal Agents at Ruby Ridge? But I guess it has simply taken the Canadians longer to catch up with the this Western Neo-Socialistic Fascism that has invaded America and dictates that no man is an individual without firstly/lastly/forever joining hands with government . . . and obtaining permission to exist. Life would have certainly been a bitch for every soul in a covered wagon that ever ventured West and survived in any kind of hovel that could provide protection from the elements. I know I‘m a dinosaur so don’t bother mentioning it. By the way, it’s certainly a beautiful thing to look at, but beautiful things seem to no longer have a place to exist in this ugly, hate filled World. (Of course if he had simply gone to the local planning commission, gift laden, kowtowing and full of a salivating expression of undying respect for the petty government officials he met, he would have never had this problem.)
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:49pm1- As the tree grows upward and expands outward the egg house will fall apart and crumble to the ground.
2- The square footage and the circular floor plan makes this a squrrles cage and not an abode for Human habitat.
3- OWS will buy the plans, using Soros money and start building these in Zucotti Park this summer.
4- Did he bother to ask the tree if It wanted this egg knot on its trunk?
OK, now’s the point where jzs and little timmy reply with stories of aliens in the woods and how this guy could put rockets under his egg house and launch himself into space….
Report Post »wdittgasn
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:28pmPalmetto….. why are you so exasperated by this…Western Neo-Socialistic Fascism ….. REALLY?? I think it is pretty cool….A neat little place to camp out. Or live after this administration gets done with the country
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:05amFunny.. he gets permission to use a song for his video but not to use the land to build a house.
Now he wants people to support his squatting??
Report Post »truebluepatriot
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 3:49amThis CANNOT STAND! Modern man is not PERMITTED to strike out as an individual with a concept that pursue it without the permission of the State. The regs on building an abode alone would have eventually made him give up. Some of the most beautiful and pleasing things in life occur in the void where the State does not intrude. Good for him for pursing the dream before it becomes a “crime” in the eyes of the State. He will always have the memories of his precious achievement.
Report Post »Phattdad144
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:17amArticle does not mention all the details, like taking care of waste. Does he carry out his trash and let hes feces fall to where ever its lands. Or does he us someone else’s bathroom that not being used?
We had a bounty of showering options in nearby waterfalls and lakes, and, if the need arose, there were plenty of unused hottubs in the neighborhood.
So isn’t using a hottub that is not being used, trespassing?
Report Post »I guess with that logic he can help himself to the unused food in his neighbors cupboards.
And if many more of his ilk move into his area. wouldn’t that be a hobo town?
Would cardboard boxes meet the building requirement for his neighborhood?
rockinroadie99
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:13pm@RLEWISPITT. I screwed a 3/8′ solid hook screw into a silver maple tree limb with the purpose of attaching a zip-line for my kids to play with about 6 years ago. The hook stuck out a good inch and a half. Since then the tree grew completely around the hook, there is no evidence of it being there, so to say that trees grow very slowly as to not affect this egg house is not exactly true.
Report Post »Remembering Ruby Ridge
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:31pmYep!
Report Post »Alan
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:52pmDoes he even own the property? Also, if that so-called tree house rested a couple of feet lower, it’d be a ground house. So why bother building a tree house low enough that you could just about leap into it from a standing start? This guy just has way too much free time.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:18pmNo, it is public land
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:47pmStill an awesome tree house.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:06amwhy do you have to be so negative? and why didn’t you read the article which answered your negative questions.
Report Post »Pucci
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:52ammore commie micro houses
Report Post »mils
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 10:54am“PUBLIC” ground…owned by government…
Report Post »the law is the law…if you don’t like it..work on changing it, not breaking it.
the house is great..a self taught carpenter?..great looking work…but he still broke the law, ans he was fully aware of it..:(
chingachgook
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:48pmlooks like a polished version of Ted Kaczynski’s little house but in a tree. Living without the amenities that we have become used to gets old quick.
Report Post »GWillie
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:12pmNot completely without amenities “there were plenty of unused hot tubs in the neighborhood.”
Report Post »This useful idiot thinks he‘s entitled to live free on public lands and to use other people’s hot tubs…
JJ Coolay
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:00am…and bathe in them!
“Bring the soap, honey!”
hahah
Report Post »LovingAmerica
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:18pmI love this pretty tree house but from a female perspective, playing “pretend” with this guy would not be much fun. Pretend you are not freezing when the wind blows, wet when it rains, hypothermic when it snows, that you like bugs, wasps, ants and snakes and that you don’t have to do your “business” while running from black bears at the same time. (which may be a natural reaction when running from bears anyway) Oh yes… give me everything and pretend we are married…. while pretending what I am doing is legal. But, hey… on the bright side… although he did not give her a soft place to lie down, he did manage a special shelf for a pretty yellow flower! Maybe she can carry that little flower pot to throw at the bears as she runs.
Report Post »Rohawk
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:41pmI love everything about that comment! lol
Report Post »Weiners Wiener
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:59pmC’mon. It’s the Canadian wilderness. How cold can it get?
Report Post »dugbru
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:59pmShe doesn’t have to outrun the bear, she just needs to outrun him..
Report Post »nueces
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:38pmdito …Hippies will be hippies …. until they grow up.
Report Post »romadave
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 10:55amDugbru “She doesn’t have to outrun the bear, she just needs to outrun him.”
Ha!
Report Post »term limits for congress
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:18pmTo whom does he pay property taxes?
Report Post »Texas Chris
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:32amFYI, If you gotta pay property taxes on it, you don’t own it. You’re renting it.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:15pmUnfortunately it’s on public land. The idea and design are awesome. Why not start a company, sell the design and blueprints and make a few Canadian dollars! At least he’s in a country where they still might respect and admire his effort. That wonderful concept is quickly dying in the U.S.A thanks to EPA, Agenda 21 and OWEbumler’s thirst for power….
Report Post »Rohawk
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:45pmJust call it a GREEN house and the government will love it! Claim your occupying public land and the communists will support you. Explain there’s no bathroom let alone toilet paper and Sheryl Crow will do a benefit for you!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:54pmRohawk,
What about the fact that he is wearing a trail in the composting mulch going to and fro so much? That’s gotta have an impact on the environment. And what happens when the tree he uses as a bridge rots away? Inquiring minds want to know.
So, he also must have some kind of solar panel to charge the battery of his lap top. He could have used a simple mirror, but he had to hi-tech it with the lap top.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 11:05pmnancy pelois will want her share even though its in canada
Report Post »TyrannyNoMore
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:14pmApparently, the moderator doesn’t want me pointing out the obvious design flaw…..hmmmm??
Report Post »geonj
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:08pmhe should have bought land. squatting is theft of property. case closed.
Report Post »Patriot of My America
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:34pmI hope I do need to purchase real estate every time I need to squat that would be hard on the digestive.
Report Post »Texas Chris
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:36amIt’s debatable if the government has the authority to designate “public land”, since the state produces nothing, therefore must appropriate from taxpayers in order to purchace from taxpayers.
It’s like if I showed up to buy a car your are selling for $3,000, stole $3,000 from you, then bought the car with that $3,000. Do I rightfully own the car? Does the government rightfully own the land?
Report Post »grimmy
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:00pmAnd the tree huggers say……….
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:23amCool house…if you’re 12.
Report Post »geomann
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:59pmThe smart move would be to get as much publicity as possible (Dwell Magazine and The Blaze have got him off to a good start), make a big show of donating it to the government agency that owns the land, then use it as a resume to land a job designing interesting buildings for money. The government agency could add it to their reservable campsites, and make some money from it.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:57pmIts kinda amazing that if you put aside the illegal location (he doesn’t own the land) that people seem to forget we once did live off the land anywhere we damned well pleased. Yea, we had to fight for that right but now its like, you need to be in a city apartment living where we can keep tabs on you and tax you. Agenda 21 is heading off those of us who would contemplate runing to the hills to survive and thrive. There is no such place really where THEY cannot find you! They want to control all access to the land and therefore ultimately control mans very existence from birth to grave.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:08pmChiefGeorge – I agree, UN Agenda 21 is going to have us all in small apts. in crowded cities so most of America can be natural and wild and the government (OWG that is) can use it as they please. People are the problem and if we don’t comply, we will have to be done away with. To them, nature is more important than people, unless they need us for labor.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:54pmVery nice tree house and wonderful imagination and craftmanship, but why on private land?? I would not help him, as he requests on the video. He knowingly tresspasses and builds something knowing it will have to come down if caught. I don’t like his entitlement attitude! What a waste of talent. He will probably profit off of his illegal endeavor.
Report Post »Kerstile
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:45pmYou cannot go around building your stuff on property that is not your stuff. Period. Doesn’t matter what it looks like.
Report Post »Rohawk
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:50pmYou can, but in the end its a gift to the real owner when he runs you off his land or when yu end on in jail for occupting someone’s hottub as he says.
Report Post »truebluepatriot
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 3:53amI guess I haven’t given up understanding that “public land” is just that, the public’s – NOT the Governments. But they sure THINK it’s theirs.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:40pmNot a very livable tinny hut my friends doesn’t even look like you could sleep in it the roof looks like it would leak like a sieve and sealing it up just may kill the tree
This is more self-centered and ego than practical or even usable
Why do these people think the basic laws of ownership don’t apply to them who cares if they have no business in these woods it’s all fun and games right?
Report Post »kindling
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:07pmMaybe it is just a summer egg, they look for a different nest when it gets cold and wet.
Report Post »Coded-Dude
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:38pmHmmm…….So what does he do when he shows up and other people are using his “private property” on “public land?”
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:54pmWell, what could he say? Review his comment about showering in nearby waterfalls and unused HOTTUBS. I guess he doesn’t mind trespassing on private property either.
Report Post »TyrannyNoMore
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:55pmHaha…good point ? You made me wonder if a stand your ground law would apply, if someone were to invade his egg house ?
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:35pmPretty cool.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:47pmCoolest thing that I have seen… in some time!
Report Post »Clownshoes
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:31pmWell, judging from all the gaps in the “walls” of the hemloft and the lack of any insulation, I’d say when winter rolls around that this problem will solve itself. Hippie-sicle anyone?
Report Post »booger71
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:22pmWouldn’t want to lick it
Report Post »swoods08
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 1:59pmHah, no kidding. Those steps are a joke, they will ice up so fast and he might break his neck!
Report Post »valleyfever
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:25pmCool little campsite and actually quite attractive. What if everybody did it? How about if the others just lived on some boards thrown across two limbs? Defecated in the forest? Bathed in the streams and “unused hot tubs”? It would be called “Occupy The Forest” and it likely smell bad and would probably not be so surreal and fun.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:58pmThey were once called Native Americans and they did just fine.
Report Post »Rohawk
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:56pmSo did the Jews during the exodus. They had millions of people. It does help that they burried their waste (I’m sure manna digested well)
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:21pmI’m reminded of the movie, “What About Bob?” where they old couple is on the lake yelling, “Burn! Burn! Burn!”
Report Post »VoteRightDammit
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:18pmTough and doomed situation.
As for this particular case, I’d want to say, “Fine – be a good neighbor and stay off neighbors property and we will turn a blind eye.” The thing is obviously NOT an eyesore.
But there is NO WAY they can allow this exception .. which would obviously lead to copycats and disaster.
Doomed.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:14pmarrest the tree hugging loon
for one im sure supports all the laws the politicians he supports keep writing , he has an obvious ” good for thee, not for me ” attitude that needs some adjustment to reality
a term in jail might jump start that process ……………………..then again, probably not ……….liberalism is a mental disorder
Report Post »hillbilly patriot
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:14pmThat is a neat design he has. However, he might have wanted to build that on his own land.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:19pmMy thts exactly!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:11pmif the need arose, there were plenty of unused hottubs in the neighborhood.
Report Post »—————-
This statement says it all about his view of private property.
MrObvious
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:41pmyep … There doesn’t seem to be anything especially special about that place. It’s got a kind of cool design; but, he knew he was breaking the law from the start; and, there doesn’t seem to have been a very good reason for it. Still, it‘s not like he’s hurting anybody at the moment; so, I’ll wish him well; and, hope he finds a way to go legit.
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:08pm“And so began his doomsday prepping days…” Smart move.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 6:24pmsmart until he revealed its location….
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