Photo from Stephen Simonetto

This tiny island was featured on my blog last year when nobody was living there, but now I have photos from the current resident, Katherine Ball.

Her six-week residency entitled “No Swimming” runs from August 12th until September 25th and Katherine is blogging from her iPad along the way.

It is definitely a spartan existence living in a 20 foot diameter fiberglass and foam igloo. “I’m using a lot of resources from the museum, keeping food in the visitor center. I could cook out here but then I have to wash my dishes. I could create a miniature grey water system,” said Ball when she first moved in.

photo from inspir3d.net

Built by artist Andrea Zittel, the intention is for a different artist to live here every summer and modify the island however they like.

They call it Indianapolis Island or “Indy Land” and it lives on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Katherine is implementing the use of mushrooms (mycobooms) to filter toxins out of the lake water. “It’s strange that people I talk to all over the country are resigned to the fact that our waterways are polluted. I would love to help people feel like ‘our waterways are polluted, we need to try to fix this’ instead of simply accepting that pollution is normal.”

Read her blog for more information on this biologically-oriented pollution solution.  Photos by Michelle Pemberton / The Star. Thanks to Deryck for the head’s up.

Not for sleeping in. Unfortunately. This tree pod holds a dining table for four in a remote open-air resort on a tiny island in Thailand. Made from rattan and steel, this contraption at Soneva Kiri is quite the beachside spectacle. The whole resort is a bit of an uber-luxurious spectacle.

Fern Forest Treehouse in Vermont can be rented for $69/night on Airbnb:

The treehouse is a cozy little place perched on four maples 30 feet above a blanket of ferns. Access is by a ramp 70 ft. from the main house, where you’ll have a private bathroom with shower. This quiet accommo in the woods has heat, electricity, and a small refrigerator. The main floor has a single bed, or climb the ladder to the loft with a queen sized futon and down comforter. Enjoy the comfy reading rocker or sit on the deck and gaze at Mt. Abraham and the Green Mountain National Forest.

Tupelo, Sassafras, and Plum Tree are the names of these cottages in the Mississippi Historic District of Portland, Oregon. These 374 square foot homes, designed and built by Jeff and Brad, feature many salvaged and recycled materials and were on the Build it Green! Home Tour. Tammy took a private tour inside and shared all of her photos on Flickr. (Thanks Tammy!)

You can rent these cottages each for about $1000 a month and a fourth one should be finished any day now.

Possibly the smallest hotel ever. It’s the Woodpecker Hotel in Sweden, near Stockholm. Just enough room for a bed and a small porch, 40 feet in the air and accessible by rope swing device. Via Tiny House Design. More flickr photos here.

Another trailer resort and retreat! Like El Cosmico in Texas, you can rent these trailers nightly, and it’s a bit of an artist community as well in Joshua Tree, CA. Hicksville.com hasn’t launched yet, but I couldn’t wait to share with you the preliminary pics.

They are vintage themed trailers. The one on the left is “The Pioneer,” western-inspired. The Airstream on the right is alien-themed complete with an alien communication system. Also pictured is the heated saltwater pool.

The Little Red Caboose. You can make reservations online (starting at $100/night). Check their Facebook page for updates.

The Cedar Creek Treehouse in Washington state has a giant cedar tree running right through it, sits alongside a river, and overlooks Mount Ranier National Park. Could it get any better? It’s off-grid and solar-powered, too. Rates are $300/night.

Photo credit: Nat Hansen

El Cosmico has arrived, bringing new lodging to Marfa, Texas that includes brightly colored travel trailers ranging from 27′ to 45′ in length. Yurts, teepee and tent camping are also available on the property, along with wood-heated hot tubs, rammed earth community buildings, hammocks, art spaces and an amphitheater.

Prices range from $90-125 per night to stay in a trailer. More beautiful interior renovation photos here. Via Poppytalk.

Photo credits: (top) Mark Meyer, (middle) D’Ette Cole, (bottom) ElCosmico.com

Lapa’s Nest Treehouse in Costa Rica was built sustainable from felled lumber after a hurricane and boasts rainforest shade, ocean views, a pool and visits from friendly monkeys. Here’s their promotional video. Wouldn’t take much to get me there.

This is one of the treehouses found at Treehouse Point in Issaquah, Washington (22 miles west east of Seattle). A popular spot for weddings, each treehouse can be rented out from $110-215 per night. This house is called the Temple of the Blue Moon and equipped with a queen size bed, leather armchairs, ipod dock, and even a toilet.

Photo credit: Anton Schoenbacher