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(1) Remember when you dreamed of living in a tree house? (2) If one enterprising eighth grader has her way, adults and children alike might get a chance to make your dreams come true, (3) Oakley middle school student Sarah Rosen bas teamed up with a local architect to create what she calls "Tree Ilouse Dream Houses." (4) They are building plans for tree houses that range from the simplest to the most complex.
(5) "It all began when my friends and Italk ahout how great the weather was this summer and how we wished we could just live outdoors. (6) That's when 1 got the idea. (7) 1 said that we could-if we lived in a tree house!" Sarah explains.
(8) She hegan to draw some ideas for tree houses. (9) Then she had the idea of placing thin drafting paper over pictures of trees, drawing the kind of house she thought belonged in that tree, and finding the pictures in magazines. (10) Some were just decks where people could relax, but others were fancier. (11) She began to think it would be possible to sell these ideas if she could get some help drawing plans for tree houses that people could actually build themselves. (12) That's when she contacted Southwinds Architects. (13) They knew how to tum her ideas into plans - that would truly work, without harming the trees.
(14) Thus grew a budding commercial enterprise. (15) Sarah now markets her plans for "Tree House Dream Houses" locally at the offices of Southwinds Architects and nationally via the Internet. (16) All combine great views, shade, and gentle breezes with respectful attention to not overburdening the tree. (17) Sarah says proudly: "We are very careful to balance the weight we add to the trees, and we attach our constructions with cable and rope, not nails."
(18) So when will Sarah be living full time in a tree house? (19) She responds with a laugh. (20) "I hope I'II he able to within a few years. (21) My problem is that I can't decide on a design. (22) I'd like to try to build something that combines living spaces with recreation, like swings and monkey bars. (23) Of course, the perfect plan would involve a big slide to come down on!"?
