Benjamin Jones’ Technicolor TreeHouse Returns to Governors Island [PHOTOS]

Having a treehouse in your backyard (or even a backyard, for that matter) is a treat that most of us who grew up here in New York City never got to experience, but <a href="http://beenjamminj.com/node/66">Benjamin Jones</a> wants to change that. The artist and set designer recently brought his <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interview-we-talk-to-artist-benjamin-jones-about-his-incredible-sustainable-treehouse/">TreeHouse made of recycled materials</a> back to the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/figment/">FIGMENT festival</a> on Governors Island for the third year in a row, and it's bigger and brighter than ever! Click through <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/benjamin-jones-technicolor-treehouse-returns-to-governors-island-photos/figment-treehouse-14/">our gallery</a> to take a mini tour of the TreeHouse's new features, which include a gazebo made of old desks and three specially-commissioned artwork installations.

TreeHouse is made of salvaged materials like old doors from BIG!NYC.

Kids enjoying TreeHouse's new and improved slide.

In 2011, FIGMENT called upon Jones to try his hand at building a dream treehouse using recycled materials, and the first iteration of TreeHouse was born.

Jones gathered his materials from places like <a href="http://www.bignyc.org/">BIG!NYC</a> as well as from the streets of New York, and used FSC-certified lumber to construct the frame.

TreeHouse Part I was a hit, but <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-figment-festival-brings-a-creative-recycled-art-world-to-governors-island/">as you can see</a>, it looked very different from what it is today!

For this year's version, Jones decided to add on an extra shaded area as well as give the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interview-we-talk-to-artist-benjamin-jones-about-his-incredible-sustainable-treehouse/">TreeHouse</a> more personality with custom artwork.

"We've reused the original structure for the 3rd year running and provided a new skin of doors from BIG!NYC again and this year we added another section called the Gazebo with a skin of old desk tops provided by <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/mfta/html/home/home.shtml">Materials for the Arts</a>," Jones told us.

"We also have artists in the TreeHouse this year." Click <a href="http://newyork.figmentproject.org/long-term-exhibitions/treehouse/">here</a> for more information about the featured artists.

Biomorphs by Anastasiya Gutnik

<a href="http://www.brooklynartistry.com/">Brooklyn Artistry</a> helped paint the TreeHouse and added murals.

A little girl getting ready to try out the slide!

Another colorful but perhaps less fun way to get down from the TreeHouse.

Don't forget to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/benjamin-jones-technicolor-treehouse-returns-to-governors-island-photos/figment-treehouse-14/">click through our gallery</a> for a photo tour of all of the TreeHouse's features or visit it for yourself on Governors Island (it will be open until September 22, 2013).