Ballroom: A Giant Willow Nest in Melbourne With Tall Ceilings and Celestial Windows

By now, just about everyone is familiar with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/patrick-doughertys-mind-blowing-nest-houses-made-of-living-trees/">Patrick Dougherty's enormous nests made of willow saplings</a>, but his latest "Ballroom" installation at Federation Square in Melbourne might well be his most ambitious yet. Willows are considered weeds in Australia, where their dense canopy, invasive root system and excessive leaf fall is destructive to local water systems - but the plants offer a great medium for the American artist's larger-than-life <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/public-art/">public art installations</a>.

Patrick Dougherty bends willow to his will in public art installations around the world

This may well be Dougherty's finest work to date

This latest installation is standing tall at Melbourne's Federation Square

Scaffolding keeps the willow structure secure as it is being built

It took three weeks and 10 tons of willow to realize this project

Ballroom's design was inspired by the nearby St. Paul's Cathedral

Dougherty uses rudimentary tools to fashion these designs