A 20-year dream…
A graduate of the “Arts Décoratifs” and a graphic designer in Paris for over 20 years, my dream of old stone buildings, countryside living, and treehouses became a reality when I discovered Les Galants in early 2012.
Trained as a designer, I created my treehouse nests here. Unusual by nature, they required a skilled team to take on the challenge of building them. Two young local carpenters and a tree-climbing specialist and forester joined me on this adventure. The four of us built them together, and more will follow in the near future.
It will be my great pleasure to welcome you and share
my passion and childhood dreams with you.
A dream come true!
JANUARY 2012
For 20 years, I pursued my dreams of castles, old stone buildings, countryside living, and treehouses… Now, it’s done!
In June 2011, during a dinner at Pierre and Sébastien’s at the Poney Club de l’Espérance, one of their friends, Bertrand, told me about a property for sale near my family home in northern Nièvre. The next morning, at dawn, I was there. This was it—love at first sight.
Within 10 days, the deal was sealed. After several hurdles—mostly financial—I finally became the owner of Les Galants in January 2012.
Start of the works
December 2012
First, I designed and built four treehouses, perched in two- to three-hundred-year-old oak trees in the woodland behind the barn at Les Galants.
The team had been assembled for a few months: Nicolas and Mapuche, two young carpenters and neighbors, experts in traditional wood craftsmanship, and Bertrand, a forestry technician and tree-climbing specialist.
He is a tree-climbing specialist and is soon to be qualified to supervise this activity.
The team had been assembled for a few months: Nicolas and Mapuche, two young carpenters and neighbors, experts in traditional wood craftsmanship, and Bertrand, a forestry technician and tree-climbing specialist.
He is a tree-climbing specialist and is soon to be qualified to supervise this activity.
The first treehouse is up!
JANUARY 2013
We’re about to lift our cube to its final height. First, we raise it using two hoists. Then we carefully position it (tilt, alignment with the trunk…). Finally, we secure the permanent cables that will support the treehouse.
We meet at 8 a.m., gathering over a coffee. Will we manage to pull it off?
Luckily, we’re a great team, and optimism is key. We build, we adjust, we rethink, we correct, we climb up, we come down, we warm up, we pull, we screw, we go back up, we warm up again, we talk… and finally—WE DID IT!!!!
We meet at 8 a.m., gathering over a coffee. Will we manage to pull it off?
Luckily, we’re a great team, and optimism is key. We build, we adjust, we rethink, we correct, we climb up, we come down, we warm up, we pull, we screw, we go back up, we warm up again, we talk… and finally—WE DID IT!!!!
A staircase for the Leaning Nest
April 2013
Well, having a treehouse perched more than six meters up in an oak tree is one thing—but you still need a way to get up there. Until then, we used a ladder, but I quickly realized it was a bit tricky for the more timid… and those afraid of heights.
So I decided to build a solid, comfortable staircase to reach it safely. My two talented carpenters, Nicolas and Mapuche, got back to work—and here’s the result! The staircase is connected to the cabin. Since it is only suspended by cables, it used to move slightly in the wind. The staircase now stabilizes it, while remaining flexible at the first landing to absorb the tree’s movements in strong winds.
So I decided to build a solid, comfortable staircase to reach it safely. My two talented carpenters, Nicolas and Mapuche, got back to work—and here’s the result! The staircase is connected to the cabin. Since it is only suspended by cables, it used to move slightly in the wind. The staircase now stabilizes it, while remaining flexible at the first landing to absorb the tree’s movements in strong winds.
Birth of the Sphere Nest
JULY 2013
A month and a half behind schedule… a struggling company (yet another one!) delayed the start of this new adventure. Let’s be philosophical—the world wasn’t built in a day… So 45 days late is just a drop in the ocean in a lifetime.
This second treehouse nest will be a sphere, as round as the Earth. Its axis, like our planet’s, is not vertical but tilted. The structure is made of laminated wood (long Douglas fir slats glued together and shaped in a mold). Its diameter is 6.5 meters.
This second treehouse nest will be a sphere, as round as the Earth. Its axis, like our planet’s, is not vertical but tilted. The structure is made of laminated wood (long Douglas fir slats glued together and shaped in a mold). Its diameter is 6.5 meters.
Construction gets underway at full speed
August 2013
A long and demanding job. We have 70 m² to cover, which means 210 m² of tiles (with two-thirds overlap). The metal structure rises little by little, the tiles are put in place, and the sphere gradually takes shape. Teamwork. A group of enthusiastic young people surrounds me.
A little more patience is needed before it’s ready to stay in. The sphere is designed for a small family: two parents and two children on the mezzanine. Electricity, insulation, interior finishes, flooring, décor…
Still plenty of work ahead… and quite a few questions, since nothing is really straight!
A little more patience is needed before it’s ready to stay in. The sphere is designed for a small family: two parents and two children on the mezzanine. Electricity, insulation, interior finishes, flooring, décor…
Still plenty of work ahead… and quite a few questions, since nothing is really straight!
The circle is complete!
October 2013
The Sphere Nest finally lives up to its name! It is now covered and protected from the winter weather… The roofing has reached the very top of the sphere. Oak wooden shingles cover five-eighths of the structure, while the remaining three-eighths are open-air, forming a terrace.
A large bay window and a long vertical window have been installed, and the enclosed sections are also covered with wooden shingles. I’m now sheltered and ready to work on the interior. The sphere is fully insulated with cotton (the same as for the Leaning Nest), produced by the Emmaüs foundation. I then lined it with wooden paneling, which I stained—the best way to follow the curves of the sphere as closely as possible.
A large bay window and a long vertical window have been installed, and the enclosed sections are also covered with wooden shingles. I’m now sheltered and ready to work on the interior. The sphere is fully insulated with cotton (the same as for the Leaning Nest), produced by the Emmaüs foundation. I then lined it with wooden paneling, which I stained—the best way to follow the curves of the sphere as closely as possible.
Climb to the top of the nest
February 2014
We built it leading to a platform anchored to an oak tree right next to the sphere. From there, a footbridge—designed to be raised—leads straight to the nest. Since the trees are not the same size and don’t move in the same way, everything had to remain flexible. The staircase rests on the ground on two large cast-iron plates, allowing it to slide in strong winds. The footbridge can move in all horizontal directions in front of the platform to follow the trees’ movements.
After the staircase came its railings—entirely welded metal, designed to keep the structure as visually light as possible. Everything is homemade. Welding isn’t easy… but I’m getting the hang of it!
After the staircase came its railings—entirely welded metal, designed to keep the structure as visually light as possible. Everything is homemade. Welding isn’t easy… but I’m getting the hang of it!
The third Treehouse Nest underway
February 2014
This one will be for families—two nests in one: one for the parents on one side, one for the children on the other… each in their own space!
This nest will be specially designed to be accessible for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, via a custom-built (but safe!) lift. A platform about 3.5 meters high, spanning over 50 square meters, will be built across four oak trees. The main supporting structure consists of three laminated beams over ten meters long, resting on metal brackets anchored into the trees and secured with custom-made bolts.
This nest will be specially designed to be accessible for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, via a custom-built (but safe!) lift. A platform about 3.5 meters high, spanning over 50 square meters, will be built across four oak trees. The main supporting structure consists of three laminated beams over ten meters long, resting on metal brackets anchored into the trees and secured with custom-made bolts.
Cladding the Nest on the Water
January 2015
With both nests completed, it’s time to clad them. Like the Leaning Nest, the exterior is made of Douglas wood, known for its natural resistance to the elements.
Time goes by, and the weather hasn’t been great these past few days. Rain ripples across the water at the foot of the Nest on the Water terrace… The two vertical openings have been closed with solid panes. And the cladding of both nests continues…
Time goes by, and the weather hasn’t been great these past few days. Rain ripples across the water at the foot of the Nest on the Water terrace… The two vertical openings have been closed with solid panes. And the cladding of both nests continues…
My turn now…
February 2015
And there we have it—one stage complete. My carpenter friends and I have finished “their part”; now it’s up to me to take over the rest… Interior work (insulation, electricity), decoration, furniture, terrace railings…
Plenty of work ahead to be ready by Easter!
For now, both cubes are left in raw wood. They will be painted using the same method as the Leaning Nest once the wood has stabilized and fully dried. The windows and doors haven’t been delivered yet!
Plenty of work ahead to be ready by Easter!
For now, both cubes are left in raw wood. They will be painted using the same method as the Leaning Nest once the wood has stabilized and fully dried. The windows and doors haven’t been delivered yet!