Latest Photo Galleries:

• Images: Astronomers discover 'young' supernova
• Photos: Cracking open the Atari 2600
• Images: Mars is getting a new visitor
• Photos: Where the building is the network
• Images: Microsoft telescope puts universe on your desktop
• Photos: Microsoft previews 2008 Xbox games
• Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
• Images: Satellites follow killer cyclone
• Images: How to make your car run on tequila (sort of)
• Images: A visit to 'negawatt' central

More galleries »

Related Stories

• Green tech powers forward

Related Topics

• Environment and Energy
• Global warming

You don't need to be a treehugger or join the Swiss Family Robinson to live in a tree. More ready-made designs are coming to the United States. Yet another example of biomimicry, this compact and whimsical design from German firm Baumraum is shaped like a walnut. The company makes more spacious dwellings with sweeping views of woods and waterfronts. It favors pine woods for construction materials because the natural resin protects the exterior from sun, rain and snow without requiring toxic finishings. The structures are built with double-paned windows and doors, 4 inch-thick walls, and tightly sealed corners to keep out insects and small animals.

Credit: Alasdair Jardine/Baumraum

More Galleries

• Images: Xcor rockets into private space flight
• Images: Bat plane to spy for U.S. Army
• Photos: Look who's playing with Microsoft's Surface
• Photos: 'Mobot' races test design skills
• Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week