Off-grid living in the redwoods

Perched in the redwood canopy of Occidental, the Spyglass Treehouse is a one-bedroom off-grid retreat that has achieved the status of California’s most wish-listed Airbnb. Guests can soak in forest views through floor-to-ceiling windows, unwind in a cedar hot tub, and luxuriate in an infrared sauna—all while immersed in a handcrafted, nature-rooted dwelling.

Designed in collaboration with Artistree Treehomes and realized as a prototype by YCA, the Spyglass explores prefabricated, transportable architecture that can be trucked into place, suspended in treetops, or perched on slopes. YCA’s role was to translate this vision into a scalable, flexible module—serving as test case for a national rollout of eco-retreat housing in public parks.

The project showcases YCA’s strengths in bridging design, fabrication, and place-based storytelling: concept iteration for modular off-grid living, integration of amenity systems (sauna, plumbing in remote setting), and a narrative that marries architectural poetics with ecological sensitivity.