Houses in trees. Blue Forest.

I have a decent sized Oak in our front yard and I'm sure its purpose is to carry my treehouse. Unfortunately I don't know the first thing about building on trees but these guys do. They are Blue Forest from the UK and they specialise in building treehouses. On their website they group the gallery by price ranging from 20,000pounds to over 150,000pounds. That buys you a lot of treehouse. They are primarily built for he child-at-heart rather than just the kids.

Lakeside Paradise

This is one of the more modest treehouses but i like its simplicity and the all-round deck. I could sit up there for hours, read, write, paint and with an extension cable one could even have an endless supply off tea.

Amberley Castle
Imagine if it was your home office...
"I'm off to work honey" *climbs up a tree* Perfect.

But if you are thinking of taking-on your own tree dwelling here is a website to get you pointed in the right direction The Treehouse Guide. I think I will start with a tree swing, maybe a ladder up the trunk and a sitting platform and see where things go from there.

Zelfbouwboomhut.

Zelfbouwboomhut, loosely translated "DIY treehouse", a flatpack treehouse that is strapped to the side of a tree. Personally I love flatpack, they are life sized puzzles I can use, so this is right up my ally.

Designed by a pair of Dutch designers, Rogier Martens, Sam van Veluw, as part of a series called ´AANDEBOOM´. The series it to be completed through the year.

The design of this is all practical. Basic materials and basic construction, the only part that doesn't follow suit is the bracket on the front. It is compleatly ornamental. This gives references to the pulley system found on most traditional Dutch town houses. I think it's gorgeous and would probably hang a flower basket off it. Now to smuggle one into the country for a play.

So you need a Catholic church... an Auckland guide.

You don't believe in God but you are getting married and for some reason you now need a Catholic church. A church never entered your wedding plans but now you need to rethink the plan... Where to start?

The priest is probably a good place to start. There are so many out there and getting the right one can be hard (We went through 2 before finding one that we were happy with). They can be a great help. Use him, he knows stuff. Book him early, the good ones are really busy.

Then there is the marriage course. You won't be able to have a Catholic wedding without attending a registered course. The Auckland course, Pre-Marriage Education, is quite good. They do not try to preach to non-Catholics and is mostly filled with practical topics that apply to everyone. The most ammusing part is a lengthy questionare that you fill in alone then compare answers with your partner with one on one help with a married couple. Some funny questions about sexual orientation thrown in there, just in case you hadn't let your partner know. The second part consists of a skill enhancement course covering the following topics...

• Exploring our origins
• Building a shared understanding of Marriage
• Sharing ourselves - Intimate communication
• Coping with difference - Managing conflict
• Intimacy/ Sexuality- Giving Love, Giving Life
• To Have and to Hold – Sacrament of Marriage

Then there in the wedding service. Your priest should give you a list of things you must have in the service as well as a list of optionals like hymns and readings. We had decided that hymns weren't for us so kept them out and kept the readings to the required number so it ended up being a nice short 20-30min wedding which is what we were looking for. Then there is the option of having the service with or without Communion. It can get confusing but the priest will have all the answers.

Now that the formalities are over with, The Church...

The Catholic Diocese of Auckland has a list of all the parishes and web links for the churches that have their own websites. Here are a few of my favourite.

Saint Peter's Catholic Parish Waiheke Island.

This one gives you great views and lets all your guests feel like they are having a mini holiday visiting the island. Fees apply to non residents but with a great location and views like that who would mind?
Waiheke is also great for the reception, think picnicking in a vineyard. And off to Stony Batter for photos.

St John the Baptist, Parnell.

It dosn't have its own website but your priest will be able to help you with information. Its one of the oldest Auckland Catholic churches. Good for mid sized weddings, I would guess 100 to 150 guests. Located roughly halfway up Parnell rise it is in the heart of the action. A cute modest church with a choir loft. This one would look great with some bright flours and a coulourful bunting out the front. Maybe one like this.

(One I made, send me a message if you are interested in something similar)

How bout a Church outside of Auckland? Pouhoi has a great little church.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

And you don't even have to stick to a Catholic church. Some Anglican churches will let you rent their churches and allow you to bring your own priest.

The Holy Trinity Parnell has 3 great churches for use to all who will pay. Here are some descriptions about guest capacity from their website.


St Stephen’s Chapel: Judge Street, Parnell: is a tiny historic chapel best suited for small numbers. If you are marrying in St Stephen’s, there are space restrictions which can affect the number of your attendants and it is not possible to gather more than 45 guests within this church.

This is a great little church (We were married here, and even got to ring the bell at the end of the service. We had the bunting pictured above across the door and it gave such a great festive feel.) Because of the size it is great if you just want a small personal wedding. There is a grave out the back full of roses and a cute picket front gate. There is even a small organ inside for live music.

St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity, Parnell Road, is a large wooden church, formerly the cathedral and now placed within the grounds of the new Holy Trinity Cathedral. Up to 500 people are able to gather in the Nave of St Mary's.

Defiantly the prettiest large church in Auckland. Open during the day for visitors. Why not head to Parnell for a coffee or lunch and check it out.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Road, is the new Cathedral, the regular place of worship for the parish and our many visitors, as well as being a centre for numerous civic events and concerts. Up to 1100 people are able to gather in the Nave of Holy Trinity Cathedral. For those with a smaller number of guests, speak to the priest about using the Chancel which provides for approximately 80 people.

Don't want to leave anyone off the guest list? This is the church for you. Heaps of natural light and one of the most amazing ceilings I have seen in Auckland architecture. The great courtyard out front for all your guests to gather after the ceremony and a pretty garden with a wandering path down the side.


I hope this has helped. Always visit a church before deciding, remember to go inside too. What looks good on paper may not be what you really need. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions (bring you pen and paper, it all gets a bit confusing a seeing a few they start to merge). Bring a friend, they might have some ideas that you have not thought of. And don't be afraid to say no.

Good luck and have fun.

Why leave home?

I LOVE small spaces so when I stumbled upon these garden offices I knew I would have to share the love. This is an OfficePOD, designed as a movable offices that are leased out to companies who see the benefits of having their employees work from home. Not only does the company save on leasing conventional office space but they are helping the environment too by getting rid of the commute, and who wouldn't rather have that extra hour in bed.



kitHAUS is also in the work-from-home business. This lovely shed even gives you enough room to invite clients and co-workers over for when you need some good old person to person contact.



This delight from Paris would have to be my favourite. I can't say no to multiple levels and this one has four! It is a convert from an existing garden shed although from the inside you wouldn't be able to tell. It was conceived by H²O architectes and contains a sleeping loft, small office/study and a bathroom. Not to mention a mountain of storage.




And if you were thinking "That's nice but I don't have the room!" well this is the ultimate in solutions. A Cardok. Just pop the shed on top. And talk about car security, those thieves won't be finding it any time soon. All this for a mere 40,000 pounds.


www.officepod.co.uk
www.kithaus.com
www.h2oarchitectes.com/ACCUEIL.html
www.cardok.co.uk

Rolling Huts of Ingenuity

I have to say, I have a soft spot for people who bend the rules in cunning ways. These huts were designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Archiects for Tom Kundig. He wanted to build some guest huts but local law forbid any new permanent structures.

So what says temporary more than a set of wheels? Images of caravans come to mind. These are more like the mutated GE version of a caravan gone wrong. Unlike the caravan they are defiantly not going anywhere any time soon and they are certainly not as cute but I still love them. There is just something about the simplicity of them that I find attractive.


And when many are put togeter like the photo above they remind me of a fleet of tanks, all ready to charge. They may be ugly but they work and I would love to spend a nite in one.