Design with a Conscience
Dustin Feider is out to revolutionize not merely treehouses but the entire concept of habitat. For Feider, the treehouse is a symbol of the entire sustainability movement and a beacon of hope for man’s survival. The O2 Treehouse is a combination of formal sculptural sensibilities, functional design and an environmentalist’s passion.
A graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a degree in Furniture Design and a passion for creative problem-solving, Feider started rethinking the concept of the treehouse during the summer before his senior year.
Realizing that sustainability was not just a good thing to do but his responsibility as an object maker, Feider dismissed wood and other traditional materials in favor of recycled or recyclable materials. He took inspiration from the simple Japanese paper lantern and Buckminster Fuller. To achieve the greatest space with the least surface area, he based his design on Fuller’s geodesic sphere and chose covering options made from 100% hemp canvas, recycled milk carton plastic and 60% post-consumer waste eco resin. The result is a translucent sphere that glows softly when lit from within.
The installation is equally revolutionary. Instead of nails, nuts and bolts, Feider uses a cable suspension system to hang the O2 Treehouse. This provides a strong, stable, wind-resistant structure. It also ensures that the tree is never harmed or restricted in any way.
