BBC Take Away English (The trend for tree houses 世界各地树屋建筑的兴起)

树屋曾是人们躲避危险的临时住所,但随着时代的进步,树屋的样式和用途也在不断改进和变革。从儿童玩耍的好去处,到现在,越来越多的成年人会选择在世界各地新奇、古怪、有大胆设计的树屋中住上几晚,重拾接近自然的体验。甚至还有些大型公司选择建造树屋办公楼给员工提供别样的思考和放松空间。本集Take Away English介绍目前流行的树屋建筑。

tree house

> 本文音频戳这里 <

article

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

vocabulary

sturdy 坚硬的
construction 构造
aloof from... 逃离...,远离....
dweller 城市、城镇居民
predator 食肉动物,猎食动物
arboreal 树木的,生活于树上的
residence 住宅
novelty 新奇,新鲜的事物
dwelling 住所,房屋
den 简易房
are appealing to sb. 吸引某人
a big draw 有巨大的吸引力
beehive 蜂箱
shelter 临时住所
habitation 住所
pod(通常为圆形的)简易小屋
are suspended from 从...上悬挂下来
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

make sentences

  1. I love going to my cousins' house. I've been there so many times it's like my home away from home.

  2. It looks like there's some rain coming. Let's hope we can find some shelter.

  3. I need to buy new fittings for my kitchen. You know, washing machine, fridge, oven, etc.

  4. Don't worry about falling. With those three safety-harness, you're as safe as houses.

  5. Hello. My name is Constable Jones. Is this the Smith residence?

question

According to Pete Nelson, why is Microsoft building a tree house structure?

answer

Microsoft is building a tree house structure because ‘studies show people can work better in nature. They are more productive’.

@BBC Learning English

©著作权归作者所有,转载或内容合作请联系作者
  • 序言:七十年代末,一起剥皮案震惊了整个滨河市,随后出现的几起案子,更是在滨河造成了极大的恐慌,老刑警刘岩,带你破解...
    沈念sama阅读 222,729评论 6 517
  • 序言:滨河连续发生了三起死亡事件,死亡现场离奇诡异,居然都是意外死亡,警方通过查阅死者的电脑和手机,发现死者居然都...
    沈念sama阅读 95,226评论 3 399
  • 文/潘晓璐 我一进店门,熙熙楼的掌柜王于贵愁眉苦脸地迎上来,“玉大人,你说我怎么就摊上这事。” “怎么了?”我有些...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 169,461评论 0 362
  • 文/不坏的土叔 我叫张陵,是天一观的道长。 经常有香客问我,道长,这世上最难降的妖魔是什么? 我笑而不...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 60,135评论 1 300
  • 正文 为了忘掉前任,我火速办了婚礼,结果婚礼上,老公的妹妹穿的比我还像新娘。我一直安慰自己,他们只是感情好,可当我...
    茶点故事阅读 69,130评论 6 398
  • 文/花漫 我一把揭开白布。 她就那样静静地躺着,像睡着了一般。 火红的嫁衣衬着肌肤如雪。 梳的纹丝不乱的头发上,一...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 52,736评论 1 312
  • 那天,我揣着相机与录音,去河边找鬼。 笑死,一个胖子当着我的面吹牛,可吹牛的内容都是我干的。 我是一名探鬼主播,决...
    沈念sama阅读 41,179评论 3 422
  • 文/苍兰香墨 我猛地睁开眼,长吁一口气:“原来是场噩梦啊……” “哼!你这毒妇竟也来了?” 一声冷哼从身侧响起,我...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 40,124评论 0 277
  • 序言:老挝万荣一对情侣失踪,失踪者是张志新(化名)和其女友刘颖,没想到半个月后,有当地人在树林里发现了一具尸体,经...
    沈念sama阅读 46,657评论 1 320
  • 正文 独居荒郊野岭守林人离奇死亡,尸身上长有42处带血的脓包…… 初始之章·张勋 以下内容为张勋视角 年9月15日...
    茶点故事阅读 38,723评论 3 342
  • 正文 我和宋清朗相恋三年,在试婚纱的时候发现自己被绿了。 大学时的朋友给我发了我未婚夫和他白月光在一起吃饭的照片。...
    茶点故事阅读 40,872评论 1 353
  • 序言:一个原本活蹦乱跳的男人离奇死亡,死状恐怖,灵堂内的尸体忽然破棺而出,到底是诈尸还是另有隐情,我是刑警宁泽,带...
    沈念sama阅读 36,533评论 5 351
  • 正文 年R本政府宣布,位于F岛的核电站,受9级特大地震影响,放射性物质发生泄漏。R本人自食恶果不足惜,却给世界环境...
    茶点故事阅读 42,213评论 3 336
  • 文/蒙蒙 一、第九天 我趴在偏房一处隐蔽的房顶上张望。 院中可真热闹,春花似锦、人声如沸。这庄子的主人今日做“春日...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 32,700评论 0 25
  • 文/苍兰香墨 我抬头看了看天上的太阳。三九已至,却和暖如春,着一层夹袄步出监牢的瞬间,已是汗流浃背。 一阵脚步声响...
    开封第一讲书人阅读 33,819评论 1 274
  • 我被黑心中介骗来泰国打工, 没想到刚下飞机就差点儿被人妖公主榨干…… 1. 我叫王不留,地道东北人。 一个月前我还...
    沈念sama阅读 49,304评论 3 379
  • 正文 我出身青楼,却偏偏与公主长得像,于是被迫代替她去往敌国和亲。 传闻我的和亲对象是个残疾皇子,可洞房花烛夜当晚...
    茶点故事阅读 45,876评论 2 361

推荐阅读更多精彩内容