Orbital Tide-Pool Treetop Observation Basin

Construct the main frame using rot-resistant white oak, utilizing curved mortise-and-tenon joinery to create a perfect circular perimeter. This skeleton must be reinforced with stainless steel brackets to ensure structural integrity when the basin is filled with water.

Line the interior with a seamless, marine-grade epoxy resin base that mimics a dark, deep-water texture. Inlay iridescent abalone shell fragments at the basin floor to reflect ambient light and simulate a shifting starlit night sky.

Install a subtle, gravity-fed drainage system integrated into the surrounding tree trunk to prevent overflow during heavy rainfall. This allows the water level to fluctuate naturally, mimicking the tidal rhythm of a tide-pool.

Finish the exterior with a Shou Sugi Ban treatment to protect the wood from UV exposure and tree sap while providing a dramatic contrast to the reflective surface. Add a perimeter ring of floating reclaimed teak slats to serve as a dry seating ledge for observers.