Physical Description

Photos are HERE... Sketches are HERE...

Dimensions:
>Total height 30' tall
>Trunk height 15’
>Trunk dia, 2’ (6' total trunk dia. with outer skin)
>Total spread of branches 25' dia.
>Main structural support branches dia.: 15'
>Tree House component off of the ground: 15’
>House dimensions: 12'-15' octagonal / 15' tall
>Steel plate base 8'x8'
>Steel I-beam and tube steel outrigger system for a playa tie in 20'x20'

Materials:
>3", 2" & 1" schedule 40 steel pipe
>24” dia. Steel pipe .375
>16 gauge sheet metal
>3/8" plate
>Tube steel
>Steel I-beams
>Rebar
>3/4" Plywood
>1/4" Plywood
>1/8” Luan
>Recycled construction & ornamental materials for house
>2x4 framing stock
>concrete

Details:
>STEAMPUNK TREE HOUSE is essentially a metal tree with a wood and metal house perched within its branches. The house component will be accessible via a ladder system on the exterior of the trunk but contained with in the greater diameter skin of the tree.
>TREE TRUNK will be fabricated/constructed and will consist of a central 24" diameter steel pipe for a support-trunk. The base of the trunk will be structurally welded & gusseted to an 8'x8'x3/8" steel plate base that will sit flat on the earth. The base plate will be anchored to a 20’ steel I-beam and tube steel outrigger system for a playa tie in. The external structure of the tree will be fabricated using a truss and web design of 3", 2" & 1" schedule 40 steel pipe for the skin and branches. There are three main load bearing branches and a single load bearing central trunk.
>BRANCHES will be fabricated independently as three separate units, and bolted to the tree trunk using flange plates and 3/4" bolts in a circular pattern at the house level (approximately 15' from the ground). The lower section of the branches will be welded and attached to the trunk, while the upper branches will bolt to the lower section using flange plates for ease of transportation. The pipe will be networked and built in such a way as to dissuade/prevent people from climbing between the networked pipe structure. It will also be connected to the trunk to enhance rigidity and stability. People will be able to climb up the inside of the trunk, through the lower branches and into the house.
>HOUSE will be built upon a 10'x15' dual square tube frame with a 3/4" plywood floor. The lower steel frame will be welded to the upper gussets of the trunk while the upper steel frame, with house attached, will be bolted to the lower steel frame. The main structure of the house will be made of wood, reinforced with a steel sub-structure that will tie the three branches & the house together for added support. The house will have framed wood walls with open windows. The windows will all be decorated with branched rebar steel rod, bent and twisted in such a way as to create the feel of branches in a stained glass-like framework. The house will be an "enclosed" open air structure with walls, a ceiling and windows that are "barred" off with metal vines and branches. It is our intention that people will not be able to climb from the inside of the house to the outside of the house. The only access to the house is through two trap doors in the floor, both of which will have an upper rail around it to prevent people from accidentally falling through. The interior will have seating and perches for people to rest on and gaze out on the playa. The house will be plumbed with steam to allow for the occasional steam room (sauna!).
>HOUSE INTERIOR DESIGN: There will be semi-mysterious drawers & compartments along the same design as San Francisco’s 826 Valencia “Pirate Supply Store.” These “secret” spaces will contain oddities, objects, and fun strange things to play with... monster finger puppets, clock guts, peeled grapes, etc. Tree House dwellers can also squirrel away small items for others. There will be shelves, crooks, and crannies that will allow people to set up little altars. In case of an accidental fire incident within the House, the House will be equipped with a dry chemical fire extinguisher. Weird and surreal paintings will adorn the walls. There will be bookshelves with fake books bearing the names of lost, obscure and never written books. There will be areas for people to sit and enjoy the view. We hope to procure an appropriate telescope for people to look through. One idea is to do something similar to the game Myst, creating puzzles and gadgets that people can explore and play with… self destruct buttons, cranks, gears, dials and steering wheels.
>STEAM EFFECTS: The tree will be plumbed with steam using 1" schedule 40 pipe. The steam lines will run throughout the tree and branches to establish the steam effects at night (see Steam Plumbing Schematic). In the event that it is necessary for a steam line to run within reach of a person’s grasp, it will be insulated with foam &/or wrapped with pipe tape. We provide the steam pipe network and Kinetic Steam Works will generate/provide the steam for limited & specific times throughout the week, but only at night.

Lights:
>Solar panels on the roof
>Storage batteries hidden in the house
>LED (firefly) lights in the branches, multiple colors
>LED (mood) lighting in the house
>LED floodlighting to illuminate the tree at night
>Back-up generator and charging system

Sound Element:
>Certain pipes throughout the tree will be a part of an open network that will allow people to speak with other people who are in different sections of the Tree. Small steel "megaphones" will be attached to the Tree for communication. The pipes will also pick up the wind on windy days. The Tree may be equipped with a few aluminum organ pipes that will make unusual sounds as the steam is piped through.