Living Architecture: Making at architectural scale

Living architecture offers a means to make at architectural scale without the environmental impact of conventional construction. Along lightweight, temporary scaffolding structures, trees are guided into form. Prominent examples are the living root bridges in Meghalaya, India, just South of Bhutan. During monsoon times, under the world’s heaviest rainfall, these bridges transform from constructions of deadwood into living organisms.

This paper advocates for the establishment of dedicated outdoor spaces where makers engage in hands-on experimentation with living architecture, aiming to push the boundaries of this still underexplored domain. Full-scale construction together with nature offers an entirely different experience from drafting and modelling. When it comes to architecture, we all have our stories to share. If invited, many are willing to contribute with either theoretical or hands-on experience. In the given context, an inclusive environment extends beyond humans. If we want to benefit from our co-creators, the trees, it is important to give them creative freedom and to respect their needs.

The author’s contribution is his experience with running workshops in Central America and Asia between 2021 and 2023. This study does not attempt to be comprehensive. It certainly is not scientific. It is written from the perspective of a hacker.