In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman sits down with Dustin Feider, founder of O2 Treehouse, to explore how elevated design, sustainability, and hospitality intersect—literally—in the trees. From geodesic spheres suspended 40+ feet in the air to modular treehouse villages designed for scalable hospitality, Dustin shares how his childhood inspiration evolved into a globally recognized design-build studio.

They unpack the engineering challenges of building on living, moving structures, the economics of unique stays, and how immersive, nature-forward hospitality can outperform traditional square-foot thinking. Whether you’re developing boutique hotels, glamping resorts, or experiential real estate, this conversation will expand how you think about space, experience, and return on investment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Dustin turned a furniture design background into a global treehouse brand
• The engineering challenges of building on living trees and how O2 solves them
• Why unique stays can outperform larger homes in ADR and ROI
• What it costs to build elevated hospitality structures
• The difference between suspended tree structures and ground-based glamping units
• How experiential design drives demand in modern hospitality
• Why smaller, one-of-a-kind builds can outperform traditional real estate metrics
• The process behind designing, engineering, and budgeting custom tree projects
• Where immersive, nature-driven hospitality is headed next

Connect with Dustin:

Website: https://www.o2treehouse.com/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Dustin Feider https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinfeider/

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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