I thought exactly the same things.
Cool idea, but dumb architectural concept.
A treehouse should be a treehouse, not a house in a tree.
Well, yeah, but the thing is, what I see of the plans is just what you say: ‘a house in a tree’. That is distinctly NOT what Tolkien had in mind when he came up with flets, and definitely not what Alan Lee envisioned for the films.
The guy in question here is definitely creative, but somehow, on this one, he’s thinking inside the wrong box. I wonder if that implies something about Pixar films to come. Will they also have a rutted feeling, rather than a groove? Will they be attempts to shoehorn some new odd form of ‘life’ into the same old anthropomorphic plot? I’d love to see another Bug’s Life or more about the Incredibles (or people just as nifty), but I think I’m good and need no more Cars or Nemos.
Just musing here, so no need to reply. Just thoughts out loud.