L I V I N G A M O N G S T T H E T R E E S
E M I L Y F I E L D , C A M E R O N D O U G L A S , E L L E N L A N A , F E L I C I A C E N C A

Treetopia is a model for possible alternative housing opportunities for students and faculty at Elon University. Our vision is to provide an outlet for the construction of creative structures amongst the trees on the Elon University main campus. We envision student built tree houses, both suspended and
grounded, in which students live and interact closely with nature and their neighborhood community. Treehouses would be designed using permaculture principles taught to students through a “learning by doing” process, focusing on utilizing sustainable & renewable building materials. In this way we hope students would not only gain knowledge about architecture and sustainable building but also earn credit for their work or even reduce their housing costs. Students could build their models before arriving on campus in the summer using recycled materials from on campus resources or recycled building materials from local sources.

Photo credit: http://theflyingtortoise.blogspot.com/2012/12/tiny-tempting-treehouses.html
Photo credit: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/07/peter-nelsons-treehouses.html

With the creation of Treetopia on Elon’s campus there is a need for smaller communities to develop, especially when centered around environmental goals for Elon. A community, or tribe, is of fundamental importance to human sanity. “A tribe…[is] best for a sense of belonging, for the freedom for fission by individuals or families in smaller bands, and for the maintenance of genetic diversity.” A strong sense of tribe for Treetopians would fulfill the needs of the community. It is essential for the community to work together in decision making, maintenance of the communities natural features, helping each other, and contributing to the vitality of the community in general. For centuries, an individual’s community served as a crucial aspect of their life by offering camaraderie, support, and security. Currently, our society has developed to living a far more detached way of life. Shifting to a tribal lifestyle based on environmental consciousness will enable the community to thrive; individuals working to help other members, managing the various aspects of a sustainably developed community, and contributing as a valued student working to further
Treetopian goals. A strong sense of community would benefit each individual, the community, and Elon as a whole.
Source: Paul Shepard’s Coming Home to Pleistocene

Paul Shepard’s Coming Home to Pleistocene inspired this vision to look much more like a tribalistic community within Elon. Ideally each community would range in size from 20-35 people, making social interaction more meaningful and personal due to familiarity with community members. These members would share a community center in which they could hold events, eat meals together, and work on school assignments. Because the actual dwellings will be without running water and electricity the community center will draw all members in to interact.
Source: Paul Shepard’s Coming Home to Pleistocene

Treetopia is most effective for Elon University’s use of the land and the third dimension. By building around and up into the trees we hope to reclaim some of the ground for sustainable agriculture in order to increase the food security and self sufficiency of the Elon campus. By putting student housing up in the trees we are in essence protecting the trees from removal while also making more room on the ground for food production. We hope to create a permaculture system below and around the treehouses in order to model it for the rest of campus to hopefully incorporate it into a larger, campus wide system in the future.

In 2004, Elon University President Leo M. Lambert appointed the Environmental
Advisory Council (EAC) who are responsible for raising awareness of environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices on the University campus. In 2006-2007, the EAC created the “Sustainability Master Plan” for
Elon University highlighting the schools’ goals “to minimize [Elon’s] impact on the global environment by establishing a carbon neutral university.”
Specifically, the “Sustainability Master Plan” recommends that the university develop a comprehensive plant to become carbon neutral by 2037, assess and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, provide the campus constituencies with information and issues regarding sustainability, and to address sustainability through various initiatives. In 2010, the Climate Action
Plan was developed based on the university’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory in 2008 and subsequent inventory in 2009 in an effort to outline emission reduction strategies, emission reduction targets, options and strategies for sustainability, as well as how progress will be tracked.
http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/bft/sustainability/Environmental%20Sustainability%20Master%20Plan.pdf

While committing to sustainability in various ways, Elon has yet to seriously address their environmental consciousness in an extremely visionary way.
Goals:
With these goals stated in the
Climate Action Plan, projected
2037 emissions will be reduced by approximately 65,238
MTCDE, or 70%.
WE NEED TO DO MORE!
Let’s move to the trees!
http://www.elon.edu/docs/eweb/bft/sustainability/Elon%20University%20Climate%20Action%20Plan.pdf

Initially the Treetopia neighborhoods would be integrated into the Residence Life housing options and be available to all students in the housing selection process. in order to allow more students the opportunity to live in Treetopia. If living in one of the neighborhoods does not appeal to students there are other ways for them to get involved including participating in gardening or assisting with the maintenance of the structures. This model is ideal for Elon because of our drive towards a sustainable campus and the great number of trees on our campus. We hope to use this idea to infill open land in and around main campus in order to use the land to its fullest potential without need for further expansion of the University into the surrounding neighborhoods and forests. By giving students the option to build treehouses we extend our campus buildings into the “third dimension”, a term coined by Register in Ecocities, to mean building up and using the already inhabited land to it’s fullest potential without extending impervious surfaces. Using this idea we can free up some of the land on campus to include farm and grazing land to make a more self-sufficient and renewable campus.

Originally we thought Treetopia would become a fantastic selling point for
Elon and draw attention and attendance for the school, drawing in students with a particular mindset suited for Treetopia. However, stretching beyond this idea leads us to think that this sort of living and curriculum would lead to Elon developing it’s own school dedicated to sustainability and environmental topics. This school would include programs such as sustainable agriculture, green design (including tree design), environmental engineering, and permaculture. Extending our vision to a new school will hopefully help all students integrate these practices into their everyday lives and invoke a more directed focus on sustainable living on campus and post graduation.

At the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin University students are being encouraged to build their own houses as part of their “learning by doing” educational approach. The program demonstrates how climate, building materials, site orientation, and client needs and preferences inform design choices based on the tenets of Wright’s organic architecture. In Frank
Loyd Wright’s words “All students are encouraged to participate in the Shelter
Construction Program to improve their architectural skills, gain a deeper appreciation of the design/build process in relationship to nature, and to participate in a team effort that is remarkably fulfilling”.
Although the climate of North Carolina and Arizona differ, we can still see the same ideas and principles being put into practice just slightly altered to fit the desert climate.
*See next slide for examples from the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture http://taliesin.edu/campuses.html

Although these examples from Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture are not in the trees, the idea of using natural, reclaimed materials would be integrated into Treetopia.
Photo Credit: http://taliesin.edu/shelters/shelters1.html

Another example from
Frank Lloyd Wright
School of Architecture showing a more suspended structure but in a desert climate.
Photo Credit: http://taliesin.edu/shelters/shelters1.html

This photo shows how it is possible to shape and transform living trees into dwellings. The process takes many years but the flexibility of the materials provides the tree artist with almost limitless design possibilities. Although this is not part of our vision, the idea is a potential offshoot of Treetopia that students could further research and develop.
Photo Credit: http://inhabitat.com/patrick-doughertys-mind-blowing-nest-houses-made-of-living-trees/

Sketch by Cameron Douglas

In order to construct a building by utilizing solar energy, it is essential to understand what heat is, and how it can be transferred. Heat is a form of energy, and can travel in three different ways: radiation, convection, and conduction. Understanding these modes of transfer allows an individual to manage the heating an area, cooling an area, or keep the temperature stable.
These principles will guide the construction of the dwellings and community buildings to provide a comfortable indoor climate.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/thermalP/Lesson-1/Methods-of-Heat-Transfer

As the Earth rotates around the sun, it is tilted at an angle on its vertical axis. This has a significant impact on the solar radiation that is directed toward various locations on Earth. In the winter, the sun is relatively low in the sky with its lowest arc through the sky on the winter solstice, on
December 21st. In the summer, the sun travels a high path through the sky and is at its highest angle on the summer solstice, on June 21st. So throughout the summer months, the Sun is high in the sky while during the winter months, the Sun crosses much lower in the sky.
Due to the nature of treehouses, heat loss is a problem we will face, therefore implementing these strategies are crucial to the success of heating and cooling of the treehouses. Typically, before plans for any sort of construction begin, an evaluation of the annual path of the Sun in relation to the specific construction site is necessary. Based on the sun’s movements throughout the year, passive solar buildings typically have their windows oriented on the southern face in order to gain as much solar energy as possible to warm the building during the winter. In order to stay cool during summer months, passive solar buildings rely on shading, typically through an extended overhang, to keep the building cool. Simply by orienting windows and constructing a building with passive solar techniques, a building can reduce its heating and cooling costs by 85 percent. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/passive-solar-home-design

Windows:
As stated before, during the day, the low winter sun can direct solar energy through windows, allowing the energy to be absorbed into the building’s thermal mass. While the windows allow heat into a building to be absorbed, their transparent nature allows the heat to escape a building. To help prevent this during cold months, it is recommended that the glass panes are doubled
(double glazing). An insulated window covering or thick shade can also be used to help insulate the windows in order to prevent solar energy from escaping the building.

Overhang:
In the summer, as temperatures rise, a passive solar building uses its thermal mass to help the building maintain a low temperature. In order for this to happen, the solar energy during the summer must be prevented from reaching the thermal mass of the building. By traveling high in the summer sky, a proper overhang or other type of system is needed to shade or cover the window, in the summer. This will cause the solar energy to be blocked when it is desired to have the building cooler than the outside temperature.
Photo Credit: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/W/AE_window_overhang.html

Trellis:
The great part about Treetopia living is having the trees as a natural trellis.
Adding trellises for the east and west facing windows, where awnings would not be effective because the angle of light is not as direct on these sides of the house, is a great method of insulation. A trellis for the homes that are not physically in trees can be made inexpensively by using chicken wire and an old window frame or bamboo and string. Then, you adding growing vines or hanging plants to the trellis would block unwanted light in the summer or spring months.
http://homerenovations.about.com/od/energysaving/a/Green-Passive-Design.htm
Photo Credit: http://theflyingtortoise.blogspot.com/2012/12/tiny-tempting-treehouses.html

Wood use:
Students and professors could choose to live in outdoor, self designed and constructed homes made from natural materials found and sourced from campus, or from recycled materials. In Alamance County, there is an abundance of trees that can be found in the Elon Forest, as well as in the surrounding areas around Loy Farm, which would provide as valuable lumber for construction. Some of the trees in these locations, and various other locations, could be used if managed appropriately.
Photo Credit: elon.edu

Wood use:
In addition, reclaimed wood from the area would provide for a green building material recycled at its highest end of utilization. Due to the amount of wood waste going to landfills, as well as deforestation and diminishing natural resources, using reclaimed wood helps in protecting and preserving healthy forests. Mature wood that would be used is stronger, as it has been exposed to various elements over time that has made it durable and less prone to either warping or splitting. Lumber can be reclaimed from various sources, while the most prolific supply comes from old buildings, such as barns and warehouses. Due to the size and volume of the timber, the pieces are flexible with regard to any future, recycled, use. http://greenbusinesswatch.org/blog/the-benefits-of-reclaimed-timber
Photo Credit: http://www.houzz.com/photos/1827233/Reclaimed-wood-cladding--wood-flooring-montreal

Wood use:
Lastly, the purchase and use of certified wood from organizations such as the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) could allow for the use of lumber that has been managed in an environmentally friendly way, with consideration for indigenous peoples’ rights, community relations, and conservation. With a set of 10 principles and 57 criteria, FSC has developed the most rigorous and credible forest certification system. https://us.fsc.org
Photo Credit: http://alleghenymountainhardwoodflooring.com/environment/fsc-certification/

Photo Credit: http://greglunger.com
Photo Credit: http://treehousebydesign.com/treehouse-living-off-theland-1189

Insulation:
For insulation, in order to prevent energy loss in a building, it is recommended to install b atting to prevent convection that can occur through building materials, such as wood. Unrolling fiberglass batting is an example of an easy way to install insulation in an unfinished wall. Additionally, the use of a reflective barrier against the inside of a wall or roof adds to the insulation's effectiveness. Considering the chosen insulation's
R-value when planning the construction of a building is important. Technically, R-value is the measure of the amount of heat transfer allowed through the material. The higher the R-value, the less energy can be lost through convection.
Photo Credit: cmsgreen.com

Tire insulation for community center:
The use of tires for insulation offer an efficient passive-solar design that will save a significant amount of energy.
Earth rammed tire insulated building will have a
“Carbon-Zero” footprint during its construction and maintenance, unlike many of the other insulative options available. While the “Earthship” books began offering tire wall concepts in the late 1980s, tire walls likely started much longer ago. The tire walls offer a
“bermed, passive-solar home, while using materials that are renewable and free, drawing almost no energy resources from the Earth.” In addition, there are relatively low maintenance costs that are associated with using tires and rammed earth for insulation. http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/tirestart.htm
Photo Credit: http://www.pinterest.com/explore/earth-ship/

Temperatures with tire insulation for community center:
The inside temperature of a building would be relatively consistent within
“normal” temperatures necessary for living due to the inherent thermal mass storage and significant amount of solar energy through our windows. During the winter, some buildings using this type of insulation will reach a minimum temperature of 63 degrees Fahrenheit. On sunny days, there will be substantial heat in a building that will help use as little energy as possible.
According to some case studies, the ambient temperature would not fluctuate more than one or two degrees Fahrenheit because of the thermal mass that the tires and rammed earth provide, meaning that almost no energy is needed for heating, while cooling can be managed easily. The use of tires and rammed earth can reduce outside noise five times better than typical insulation, and can have an R-240 value if constructed correctly. http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/tirestart.htm

This community center design was created by one of our team members.
The walls are made of earth rammed tires and were chosen for their insulating ability and upcycled sustainability.
While other community centers could be built up in the trees we chose this design to provide a space for students to socialize in a more grounded setting. Having community centers on the ground allows for larger gatherings and the inclusion of people not living in Treetopia.
Additional outside seating and tables could be brought over and placed around the building but could not be as easily accomplished if the building were up in the trees.
Design by Cameron Douglas using Sketchup

Straw bale construction is a method of building that uses straw as a structural building material, or as insulation, or both. In this case, the structure is non-load bearing with a timber frame.
Straw has several advantages: it is cheap, readily available, renewable and highly insulating.
- wheat can be sourced from local farms
The foundations of the building can rest on piles made from recycled tyres filled with rammed chalk from the site
- footprint of the building is minimal
The water soaks away into a French drain filled with recycled tyre chippings http://www.sustainability-centre.org/project.php?id=6
Photo Credit: http://www.sustainability-centre.org/project.php?id=6

HEATING: Evacuated glass tubes filled with a non-toxic liquid provide the heat for the showers. When sunlight hits the panel, the liquid inside turns to gas and rises to the top of the tube. The heat from the gas is then transferred to a pipe of glycol that is in a closed loop, which then goes on to the boiler to heat the water. A small electric motor is used to pump the glycol around the system, and the water temperature is monitored and regulated by a control box .
The whole installation when fully operational will provide enough hot water for up to 30 showers per day. To allow for constant use all year round we will add an immersion heater back up
FLOORING: draining grate
HARVESTING RAINWATER as a means to obtain the water for bathing, harvest in a collection bin on ceiling, filter through silt - sediment filtration: remove pollutants from stormwater runoff
ACCESSIBILITY: We will create enlarged versions of these showers with stalls for 15-20 students at a time, two being on each side of lake Mary Nell

Green Roof: roof of a building covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane
- absorb rainwater (acts as a filter for pollutants), provide insulation, create a habitat for wildlife
- two types: extensive, intensive extensive: shallow, lighter, require minimal maintenance, support less plant life intensive: thicker, can support a wide variety of plants, heavier & require more maintenance
Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_roof

These rooftop gardens, while not suitable for use on treehouses, could be used on any ground based buildings. Their use would be for growing food crops or other beneficial plants, possibly to attract pollinators to help pollinate the gardens.
Photo Credit: http://www.carolineperget.com/2012/green-roof/green-roof-ex5-visitor-center-shelter/

Vines: virginia creeper, virgin’s bower, and crossvines provide full-sun/shade
Seasonal (and Native) Fruits and vegetables in North Carolina:
- year round: beets, carrots, lettuce, mint, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes
- spring: cherries, lemons, strawberries, rhubarb, peas
- summer: blackberries, blueberries, basil, bell peppers
- fall: broccoli, eggplant, herbs (basil, cilantro, mint)
- winter: kale, leeks, potatoes http://www.growingagreenerworld.com
http://www.ncwildflower.org/index.php/native_plants/recommendations
Photo Credit: http://www.invernessflhotel.com/2014-florida-blueberry-festival/

“Conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity and resilience of natural ecosystems”
Place the garden near the community center to provide a place in which everyone can work on it regularly and take from when they need to. Along with rooftop gardens, the main community garden will provide a larger array of fruits and vegetables that the students will work to grow and (minimally) tend to together.
Vegetables will grow together in clusters that will provide mutual benefits to each plant with minimal human interference to mimic natural flows
Photo Credit: http://www.eatcology.com/what-is-permaculture

Elaine Turner
DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE
Leo Lambert
PRESIDENT
(336) 278-7300 (336) 278-7900 eturner12@elon.edu
lambert@elon.edu