The ultimate tree house?

At first glance it looks as though a giant insect has made a nest in these trees.

But this fascinating structure is the result of students challenged to make a shelter using forest  materials.

Budding designers Hugo Urrutia, Abdullah Omar Asghar Khan and Karjvit Rirermvanich spent five weeks planning, building and installing their creation.

Ecofriendly: The cocoon treehouse weaves between trees is an eco-friendly design made from a timber that was felled in the same forrest

The futuristic cocoon weaves between trees in Hooke Park near Beaminster, Dorset, suspended two metres above the forest floor by hemp ropes.

The eco-friendly tree house was milled from a five-metre section of cedar wood that had been felled in park’s 350-acre forest just days before.

The trio, from the Architectural Association School, in London, scoured the forest to find the perfect spot for their treehouse - and settled on an area of woodland in front of a clearing giving perfect views of the setting sun.

They then created a 12-piece skeleton before wrapping it in strands of plywood to create an amazing tunnel effect.

The 900lb cocoon took 20 people to carry it into position before it was hoisted off the ground under the forest canopy.

The unique design is the brainchild of a group of students who set about making a cutting edge shelter from materials found in Hooke Park near Beaminster, Dorse

Suspended and woven between three trees the cocoon took five weeks to plan, build and install

Budding designers Hugo Urrutia, Abdullah Omar Asghar Khan and Karjvit Rirermvanich created a 12-piece skeleton before wrapping it in strands of ply wood to create an amazing tunnel effect

Hugo, 38, from London, said: 'The challenge was to create a shelter of any kind using materials available from the forest.

'We wanted to figure out how to put a shelter in the trees without damaging them in any way.

'Eventually we came up with a way of suspending the shelter like a hammock with hemp rope.

Student designer Hugo, said: 'The best part is that the entrance points to the setting sun so you can sit and watch the sun go down.'

Craftsmanship: The students used cedar felled nearby in the same forest the cocoon was hung

The designers opted for series of rings 'wrapped' in planks of wood giving it a natural cocoon effect

'The Cocoon represents a journey through the forest, inviting and challenging the visitor to anticipate, imagine, explore and discover the natural beauty of the forest from a completely different perspective.

'The Cocoon brings the visitor closer to the canopy of the trees and surrounding environment.

'Being part of the design of the Cocoon was a wonderful experience.
'Everyone loves a tree house - they evoke incredible memories of childhood.

Early stages: two of the designers hard at work with the early stages of the covering the wooden rings

Beginning to take shape: The sheer scale and final appearance of the structure begin to become apparent 

Hanging day: It took the use of an industrial sized fork-lift truck to move the finished piece out from its design studio

'The three of us were very proud to be able to stand back and take in our creation.

'The smell inside is amazing and the untreated wood changes colour and shape as it ages.

'You can still feel a gentle breeze through the wood, and you really appreciate how light falls on it.

'The best part is that the entrance points to the setting sun so you can sit and watch the sun go down.'

But the last stretch of the journey had to be done using good old-fashioned manpower

Resting place: Ropes and pulleys were used to position the wooden cocoon suspended among three trees