第1563期:The trend for tree houses

The noble tree house – all natural materials, sturdy construction, aloof from the troubles of the world. In a more dangerous time in human history, their position above the ground would protect the dweller against environmental difficulties and possible predators. As modern construction has improved, these arboreal residences have become less of a practical dwelling and more of a children's novelty - a secret den erected in many a back garden. But now, these fun shelters are appealing to adults too and many are booking themselves in for a few nights among the treetops.

高贵的树屋——全天然材料，坚固的结构，远离尘世的烦恼。在人类历史上一个更加危险的时期，它们在地面上的位置将保护居民免受环境困难和可能的捕食者的影响。随着现代建筑的改进，这些树栖住宅已不再是实用的住宅，而更像是儿童的新奇事物——在许多后花园中竖立的秘密巢穴。但现在，这些有趣的避难所也吸引了成年人，许多人都在树梢上预订了几个晚上。

These tree house hotels can be found From Europe to Australia. Best of all, they come in a variety of interesting designs! From the traditional 'four walls and a roof' habitation, such as at TreeHouse Point, in Washington, North America, to the more artistic Nothofagus Hotel in Chilean Patagonia, whose twelve-sided walls make it look like a beehive. If that doesn't appeal, how about a tree pod?

从欧洲到澳大利亚都可以找到这些树屋酒店。最重要的是，它们有各种有趣的设计！从传统的“四墙一屋顶”住宅，如北美华盛顿的 TreeHouse Point，到智利巴塔哥尼亚更具艺术气息的 Nothofagus Hotel，其十二面墙使其看起来像一个蜂巢。如果这不吸引人，那么树荚怎么样？

The Free Spirit Spheres resort on Vancouver Island in Canada allows guests to stay in one of three yellow spheres, which are suspended from trees. The company was founded in 1998 by Tom Chudleigh, who hand built the pods from cedar wood and fibre glass, and then added fixtures and fittings. Not only are they as safe as houses, they're popular! Visitor numbers have probably doubled in the past five years, Mr Chudleigh tells the BBC.

位于加拿大温哥华岛的 Free Spirit Spheres 度假村允许客人入住三个悬挂在树上的黄色球体之一。该公司由 Tom Chudleigh 于 1998 年创立，他用雪松木和玻璃纤维手工制作豆荚，然后添加了固定装置和配件。它们不仅像房子一样安全，而且很受欢迎！查德利先生告诉 BBC，过去五年来游客人数可能翻了一番。

Digs which are original seem to be a big draw. In Sweden, at the Treehotel, numbers have also risen. "In 2010, we had four rooms and around 1,500 guests a year. Today we have seven rooms and nearly 5,000 guests," Kent Lindvall explains. Mr Lindvall co-owns the Treehotel with his wife Britta Lindvall. Each of the domiciles there was designed by an architect, who was asked to make use of the light and surroundings. Their abodes include a mirrored cube, a bird's nest and a UFO.

原创的挖掘似乎是一个很大的吸引力。在瑞典，Treehotel 的人数也有所增加。“2010 年，我们有四个房间，每年约有 1,500 名客人。今天我们有七个房间和近 5,000 名客人，”Kent Lindvall 解释道。Lindvall 先生与他的妻子 Britta Lindvall 共同拥有 Treehotel。那里的每个住所都是由一位建筑师设计的，他被要求利用光线和周围环境。他们的住所包括一个镜面立方体、一个鸟巢和一个不明飞行物。

And how about an office? Microsoft, hoping to give its employees thinking space, has commissioned a three-building structure from Pete Nelson, tree house book author and designer and builder of tree houses. "Studies show people can work better in nature. They are more productive," says Mr Nelson.

办公室怎么样？微软希望为其员工提供思考空间，已委托树屋书籍作者、树屋设计师和建造者皮特纳尔逊建造了一座三栋建筑。“研究表明，人们可以在大自然中更好地工作。他们更有生产力，”尼尔森先生说。

If you've no head for heights, then maybe a tree house getaway isn't going to be your home away from home. But the sense of adventure, the novelty of the setting and the opportunity to return to nature has given an increasing number of tree house-staying adults something to write home about.

如果您没有攀登高峰，那么也许树屋度假不会成为您的家外之家。但是冒险的感觉、环境的新颖性和回归自然的机会，让越来越多的树屋住宿的成年人有一些值得写回家的东西。

词汇表

construction 构造
dweller 城市、城镇居民
residence 住宅
dwelling 住所，房屋
den 简易房
shelter 临时住所
habitation 住所
pod（通常为圆形的）简易小屋
fixture 固定装置
fitting 可拆除的装置（如炉灶或柜子）
as safe as houses 非常安全的
digs 借宿的地方
domicile 住宅
abode 住所
structure 大型建筑物
home away from home 家外之家，宾至如归的地方