Growing Architecture - How to Design and Build with Trees

A growing, living house, a building made of a plant seems to be a contradiction in terms. Nevertheless, the Khasi in eastern India already knew how to connect the branches of rubber trees to form footbridges, and in southern Germany dance lime trees formed the centre of villages for centuries. Following on from this, the new discipline of Baubotanik is dedicated to designing with trees. Built projects, prototypes and visionary concepts point the way to a new green architecture. This introduction shows the possibilities of such living constructions and goes into the botanical growth laws that guide the design. The basics of constructing with trees are presented. The book encourages a whole new look at architecture that becomes part of urban nature.

• With numerous international examples and fascinating visual material
• Overview of tree species suitable for construction
• Botanical structures, like trees, contribute to local climate improvement

About the authors

Ferdinand Ludwig, Professor for Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, TU München

Daniel Schönle, Architect and Urban Planner, Stuttgart