Incredible Yellow Treehouse Restaurant Rises Above New Zealand

We first showcased this incredible <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2008/11/19/yellow-treehouse-restaurant-by-pacific-environments-architects/" target="_blank">treehouse restaurant</a> years ago while it was still in its design phase, and now we're thrilled to bring you pictures of the completed structure! The <a href="http://www.yellowtreehouse.co.nz/" target="_blank">Redwoods Treehouse</a> near Auckland, New Zealand is a wonderland of cocoons and walkways built in a redwood forest out of sustainably-harvested pine and poplar slats and locally-milled redwood balustrading. <a href="../daylighting" target="_blank">Natural light</a> shines through the slats into the restaurant interior located 40 meters above the ground. Since its completion the treehouse has <a href="http://www.pacificenvironments.co.nz/newsarticles/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=Middle/focusModuleID=3698/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl" target="_blank">claimed multiple honors and awards</a>.

Located on the edge of a redwood forest with views over open meadows and streams, the <a href="../tag/treehouse" target="_blank">treehouse</a> restaurant is a magical integration of nature and function.

Since the project's completion it has earned a number of awards, including the New Zealand Institute of Architects Branch Award, Gold Award at the New Zealand Institute of Design - BEST Awards, the Excellence Award from the New Zealand Institute of Building, and it's also a finalist in the <a href="http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&amp;upload_id=13822" target="_blank">World Architecture Awards 2009</a>.

Access to the pod is gained via a long low angle planked walkway, which also makes it wheel chair accessible.

Oddly enough though, the restaurant, which was designed by New Zealand-based <a href="http://www.pacificenvironments.co.nz/newsarticles/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=Middle/focusModuleID=3698/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl" target="_blank">Pacific Environment Architects, Ltd</a>, is part of a large marketing campaign for the Yellow Pages, a major printer of US phone directories.

Now that the marketing campaign is over, the restaurant has passed into possession of the land owner, who hopes to use the amazing structure for events, like <a href="../greenweddingguide" target="_blank">weddings</a> and parties.

The restaurant offers amazing views of the surrounding redwood forest. What a lovely site for dinner in the woods.