What is the Definition of a Bark House?

Bark House is the registered trademark of Highland Craftsmen Inc. This company is the original manufacturer of Poplar Bark Shingles.

Bark houses originated as dwellings for indigenous peoples. Certain barks peel easily from trees during different seasons. Because complicated milling equipment was not necessary and bark was known as the protection for the tree, it was an easy transition to use the material for personal and family shelter.

In 1895, bark houses became more refined when society architect Henry Bacon created the first squared edge bark shingle from the American Chestnut Tree for an exclusive community in Linville, North Carolina. After the chestnut tree blight, no one used bark for houses for 50 years.

Bark House has its roots in natural building. Today, it is a leader in the shift toward green or wholistic building technology. Created from natural materials, it encompasses a diminished impact on the earth and biodegrades cleanly at the end of the lifecycle.