Austin Tree Houses

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Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn Pentagon Tree House

The inspiration for this quirky treehouse came from two close friend who were allies in mischief. The only thing the client told us was “have fun with it… think of it as a Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn adventure”. So, we did. The makeshift look and feel may be an homage to Tom and Huck circa 1840’s, but the quality and workmanship are a 21st Century avant-garde creation. And we did have a blast making it!

It’s not a bend in the mighty Mississippi river in Hannibal, Missouri, but the Colorado in Austin. Even still, we’d bet a piece of Aunt Polly’s pie that this breathtaking treehouse view would even impress Tom and Huck.
The 5-sided pentagon shape worked best for the attachment
to this particular tree. Form follows function.
The importance of materials for any job is paramount. So, we milled cedar planks leaving the bark edge attached for authenticity. We later used a natural ‘aging’ process to make the planks appear a century old. Yes, somethings new can look old again.
Small details make big impressions. We made the windows askew as though Huck and Tom were involved. Even the top dormer was proportionally larger than usual adding to the perfect imperfection.
Details are functional too. Cedar was used for the outside walls and cedar tree limbs were used as stout support beams. Cedar is strong, lightweight, naturally resistant to moisture, decay and termites. Plus, it looks incredibly authentic.