Cell Towers Disguised as Trees

[Hum]

There's a chance you could be driving past a cell phone tower every day and not know it, because some of these behemoth structures of technology are disguised to resemble surrounding trees.

It's a fascinating attempt to hide the human effect on nature that started 21 years ago in Denver, according to Wired. While it seems inventive to conceal a large cell tower in a natural environment like the Mile High City, it's also pricey -- the report also states that the "fake tree" look for a cell tower could cost as much as $150,000.

Our need for widespread cell phone reception requires more and more cell towers to be erected. Then, when they're sitting in plain sight, 300 feet tall and a silvery hue that glows on sunny days, we complain that they're an eyesore. As you can see in the photos above, some of the towers take on a nearly identical look to surrounding trees while others are so poorly concealed that they probably should have just been left undressed.

One thing seems clear about these eyesores-turned-tree-imitators: The idea of disguising cell towers is catching on worldwide. According to a FastCoExist article, these towers have been seen in South Africa, Portugal, Italy and other places, so the idea that was born in America appears to be blossoming elsewhere.

source & more pics

[DrCheese]

They don't look awful imo.

 

I do find it utterly stupid tho when people complain about them being installed... but won't give up their mobile phones! You can't have one without the other...

[FloatingFatMan]

Why is this news? We've been using them in the UK for many many years.  We also use things like street signs and other "street furniture" to disguise the cell towers.

[Hum]

I have never seen a disguised cell phone tower. ;)

[Steven P. Administrators]

There's one in Zandvoort that comically rises above all the other trees by a good few meters (yeah I know that's also the point) and although it has the "disguise", looks nothing like a tree.

[mjedi7]

This just reminds me of the Illuminatti, somehow.

[Hum]

There's one in Zandvoort that comically rises above all the other trees by a good few meters (yeah I know that's also the point) and although it has the "disguise", looks nothing like a tree.

Does it sprout little cell phones ?  HAH :laugh:

[SuperKid]

That first picture here is surely a joke:

 

 

That is not in anyway disguised haha!! Look at it looks well out of place with the other trees!

[AsherGZ]

No cell towers on roads here. Just on top of buildings.

[Torolol]

The best looking i've seen is when the tower were almost totally infested with morning glories and other various climbing plants, its the most organic looking 'tower'.

But the others seems to disagree and proceed to clear it away several days later.

[Praetor]

That first picture here is surely a joke:

 

 

That is not in anyway disguised haha!! Look at it looks well out of place with the other trees!

 

I've seen one of those in my country; try to remember that this is not only for the humans but for the wildlife as well, so human construction blends with the nature.

[MikeChipshop Member]

There's a chance you could be driving past a cell phone tower every day and not know it, because some of these behemoth structures of technology are disguised to resemble surrounding trees.

 

ORLY? :p 

 

Looks nothing like a tree haha

[FloatingFatMan]

I have never seen a disguised cell phone tower. ;)

 

Guess the disguise is working then!

[Aergan]

There's one outside Stafford, UK that looked very out of place in the March snow storms.

[AJerman]

Why is this news? We've been using them in the UK for many many years.  We also use things like street signs and other "street furniture" to disguise the cell towers.

This seems to come up as a news story every year or two for some reason. There's been one of these in the neighborhood my parents live in for 7 years now. When you look at a picture of one, no, it doesn't look like a tree. But if it's in the distance and among other trees, they are actually quite easy to miss. You'd have to be looking for it to notice it, though they do stick up higher than the other trees. Seems pretty clever to me.

 

Looks a little more in place around pine trees thouogh, haha.

[IceBreakerG]

There's tons of these things around here.  It's always funny to see though since they don't actually look much like a natural tree.  I also find it ironic how people complain about the lack of cell service or poor cell service but don't want to see a cell tower in their neighborhood.  Like someone above said, you can't have your phone without the tower.

[Sszecret Veteran]

The 3rd picture doesn't even look like a tree, it looks like a pole with a big pineapple on top of it. :P

[theyarecomingforyou]

Which brings us to:

 

[Nashy]

Been doing this for years in Australia.

[DeadEndAccount]

Why is this news? We've been using them in the UK for many many years.  We also use things like street signs and other "street furniture" to disguise the cell towers.

 

Same here - middle of the round-a-bout there is usually a single pole with four or three street lights of it with what amounts to a lolly pop sitting on top which is cell tower. Most people don't know what they are until you actually point out that they're a mobile cell phone tower. Cell towers these days are pretty much blend into the background when compared to the old school ones that would stand out like a sore thumb. Another thing to consider is that many mobile vendors are using microcell sites as well in built up areas which don't have the amount of red tape associated with them.

[Growled Member]

Pretty neat idea. We'll probably get them around here in 30 or 40 years.

[copudesign]

Cool.. would be interesting to see them use actual trees. 

[Draconian Guppy]

Pretty neat idea. We'll probably get them around here in 30 or 40 years.

Yup +1 for Honduras, Central America.

 

Neat idea, I guess from up close it's pretty obvious. Also, wonder what impact these have on birds as more than one will probably end up nesting on 'em.

[SirEvan]

 You can't have one without the other...

Sure you can.  

[Tuishimi]

They are all over the place here, in Phoenix.