Tapping into nostalgic childhood memories of treehouses and summer days exploring, climbing, and trespassing, 2015 Royal College of Art graduates Thor ter Kulve and Rob McIntyre conceived of CanopyStair, a staircase which wraps around a tree trunk to offer an unobscured view from above.

Drawing inspiration from small aircraft engineering techniques, the designers conceived of CanopyStair as a modular system of wooden steps and platforms which together form a lightweight staircase for trees that’s easily and quickly assembled without tools.

Designed so it will not damage or disturb the tree, CanopyStair is composed of a cast aluminium tripod frame, lightweight tread, handrail, and a ratchet strap that quickly fastens the step into place.

The idea came to the designers during time they spent last year in a house in the Azores. A tall stone wall surrounding their house obstructed the view of the ocean. The only way to catch a glimpse of the sea was to climb a tree. Their tree climbing led them to discuss how to transform a garden tree into a staircase to easily access the view from the treetop.

Of CanopyStair’s unobtrusive access to otherwise obscured views, the designers said they felt that they had unlocked a gate to a secret garden, a passageway to a secluded habitat. “Forest canopy is the least explored ecosystem on earth,” they said, “a cloud of life.”

H/T Dezeen. Photos via the designers.