1. Living Structures
Subject Subject Subject
Holly Simon
in Europe

2. 2
Baubotanik
Scaffolding
Grafting
Multiplying
Columns
Assembly
Enclosures and Systems
3
4
5
8
10
11
12
Case Studies
Plane Tree Cube
Eco Boulevard
Fab Tree Hab
Park Supermarket
13
14
15
16
Historical Precedents
Living Root Bridges
Arthur Weichula
Konstantin Kirsch
Rudoplh Doernach
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
17
18
19
20
21
Bibliography
22
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction

3. Goal
My goal was to research the integration of
living plant/food systems into building systems.
This goal fits within a broader objective of
understanding how architecture responds to
and leads environmental sustainability and
food production for new urban models.
Approach
My approach has been to study the use of
living plants in building systems, both as an
enhancer of passive environmental strategies
and towards sustainability and/or food production. Documentation involved online literature research, interviews, site visits and photos.
Relevancy to Future Research
Increased prevalence of industrialized farming
and the spatial arrangement in cities
contribute to a distant relationship between
humans and nature. Current food production
and consumption practices have a heavy
ecological impact as cities increasingly
promote convenience eating and grocery
stores stock processed food manufactured
many miles away. Architecture, as both a
respondent and shaper of culture, can play a
critical role in reconnecting us with food and
nature. This research is relevant to my thesis
interests that focus on the question:
How can architecture affect rituals of growing,
buying and consuming food and thus develop
more sustainable urban models?
Research Subject
Baubotanik, Germany
Baubotanik, Stuttgart by practicing architects
Ferdinand Ludwig, Oliver Storz and Hannes
Schwertfeger in Stuttgart, Germany who work
from the Institute for Architectural Theory
(IGMA) at the University of Stuttgart.
“Baubotanik is a method of construction that
utilizes living plants as the load bearing systems
in architectural structures. Baubotanik takes
advantage of the “constructive intelligence”
of plants.” In summary, Baubotanik involves
the use of a temporary structural scaffold onto
which trees are grafted. When the trees reach
maturity, the support structure is removed and
the trees support the load of the building.
Additional Research Profiles
Contemporary Case Studies:
• Eco Boulevard, Spain
• Fab Tree Hab, USA
• Park Supermarket, Netherlands
Historical Precedents:
• Living Root Bridges, India
• Arthur Weichula, Germany
• Konstantin Kirsch, Germany
• Rudolph Doernach, Germany
• Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austria
“Primitive Hut”, the first act of architecture made from
living trees, source: http://deconstructionand.files.
wordpress.com/2010/08/hut4.jpg
Baubotanik (Stuttgart)
Purpose of this Report
To fulfill the required 03.0 credit hours of a
technology core course at a Master of
Architecture level (ARCH 5992). The proposed
study has been completed as a technology
elective supervised by international visiting Professor Richard Kroeker and submitted through
Fachhochschule Düsseldorf.
Introduction
Introduction

4. Baubotanik
Baubotanik
What is Baubotanik?
Baubotanik is a building process that uses
living earth-bound trees as structural members.
Live trees are planted in the ground, roots
serving as a foundation and trees as columns.
Temporary scaffolding supports the floor plates
while grafted trees come to maturity (10-15
years) after which time the scaffolding is removed and the trees support the floor plates.
Application
Baubotanik buildings are best suited for
outdoor pavilion type structures but could
support enclosed structures, depending on the
program and climate. See Baubotanik future
proposals at the end of this section.
Topics Covered:
• Scaffolding
• Grafting
• Multiplying
• Columns
• Construction
• Enclosures and Systems
• Case study: Nagold Tower
Preparation for Building
Trees are pre-grown in a nursery and rather
than pour footings, the trees are planted and
roots act as foundations/footings. Steel
scaffolding and floor plates are prefabricated
for quick assembly on site.
Observations
Obviously a major challenge is the construction
time, which takes 10-15 years. With that in mind,
this structural strategy has a number of benefits.
The wood used in the structure is 1:1 compared
to traditional wood frame construction which
wastes much wood. It is a building method for
the long term and if planned as such, can grow
along with the program in an environment.
Contacts
Ferdinand Ludwig
http://www.ferdinandludwig.com/
Baubotanik
http://www.baubotanik.de/

5. Baubotanik:
Technology
The “Tower” project,
scaffolding and tree
wall growth
Scaffolding
As the trees take 10 - 15 years to reach
maturity, temporary scaffolding is put in place
and later removed when the floor plates can
be supported by the trees.
diagram of
scaffolding
structure.
diagram of
floor plates.
scaffolding
with the tree
columns in
place

6. Baubotanik:
Technology
Tree Grafting
two year old
cross knot
of Platanus
Acerifolia
(Sycamore)
An important strategy for Baubotanik building
is tree grafting to increase strength of the structural elements. Two or more trees are grafted
together. Simply, two branches naturally fuse
when they are pressed and held together, a
phenomenon that occurs in nature anyway.
Tree grafting in the Baubotanik process is used
in a strategic way as a whole structural system.
Tree grafting significantly increases the amount
of wood per living column. Trees which have
been tested with successful results are as follows:
• Birch (works well but is short-lived)
• Sycamore (“Planaten” used in Nagold
Tower project)
• Black Alder, European Alder or Common
Alder
• European or common hornbeam
• Beech (slow growing)
• Willow (works well but is short-lived)
two branches
merged in a cross-knot
The Baubotanik lab is conducting further tests
on a number of tree species including ash,
hickory, elm and oak. Most of the species are
also found in Canada which would suggest
the application of this technique there.
Title
a simple
screw holds
two branches
together
so they will
merge into
one branch

7. Baubotanik:
Technology
“The nodal points where
the plant struts are
joined with the stainless
steel handrail make visible how the stability of
the structure increases
through the growth.”
- Ferdinand Ludwig
Tree Grafting
after the fourth growing
season, the branches
have encompassed
the metal hand rail
after the second
growing season, the
branches start to
merge around the
metal hand rail

8. Baubotanik:
Technology
Parallel knot
merge of two
young Sycamore
branches in the
Nagold Tower.
Tree Grafting
Nagold project from
which these details are
taken
tree columns will
eventually envelope
the steel connection
to the floor plates

9. Baubotanik:
Technology
Many trees are
grafted together
to make each
strong earthbound column
Multiplying
many trees
are grafted
into fewer
larger trees
The Baubotanik researchers used multiplying to
strengthen the columns in the Nagold Tower,
shown here. The main strategic difference
between baubotanik and typical “green walls”
is that the living trees are all earth bound. This
requires less maintenance as the trees perform
virtually as they wood in nature. In order to multiple the tree columns using tree grafting, the
Nagold Tower has earth boxes on each level.
When the trees have merged together, the
earth boxes will be removed and only the roots
at grade will be feeding the final structure.
eventually all
but the earth
bound roots die
and the boxes
are removed
leaving one
stronger tree
column
ancient fig
tree natural
multiplying
process
This strategy comes from the ancient fig tree
process where a new trees grow over top of
the old one, naturally merging to create a
new stronger tree. Eventually the original tree is
redundant.

10. Multiplying
By grafting the young tree columns together
and planting many trees within the structural
system it accounts for variance in the tree
growth. Certain trees will die in the process
as survival of the fittest takes place. The
Baubotanik researchers believe that enough
trees have been planted in their structures to
prevent the building from collapses when a
few die. They also prune the trees regularly so
the South facing trees do not get too big and
shade the North facing ones.
diagram showing
possible scenarios
for surviving trees
in the structure.
diagram showing
different possible structural
configurations
for the trees
Baubotanik:
Technology
conceptual diagram:
multiple trees merge to
form fewer stronger trees

11. Baubotanik:
Technology
Tree Columns
plan and
long section
showing
foot bridge
with willow
columns
section
showing
foot bridge
with willow
columns
detail of
column
connecting
to steel foot
bridge
The first time the Baubotanik group experimented with living trees as structure was in this
foot bridge built in 2005. Young willows were
planted as columns that instantly beared the
load of the walking bridge. Willows have a
short life span but can be easily removed and
replaced if they die, making them an effective
tree for this experiment.
“The footbridge does not possess a foundation
in the usual sense of the word. The vegetable
supporting structure absorbs all the load exclusively and redirects it into the ground where the
structure is anchored by the roots.”
- Ferdinand Ludwig

12. Tower Assembly
Baubotanik’s first tower project construction is
shown here. All the parts are pre-fabricated
and pre-grown so assembly was quick.
trees grown in
a greenhouse
after only
a couple
of days the
tower comes
together
the first steel
columns are
driven into
the ground
construction
completed
trees in earth
planters go
up with floor
plates
after one
growing
season
Baubotanik:
Technology
Baubotanik’s first
tower under construction

13. summer
Baubotanik:
Technology
winter
evaporation /
transpiration
uptake by the roots
trench / water storage
evaporation /
transpiration
grey water
roof water
surface water
filtration
Enclosure and Systems
These images* are from a recent competition submission by Ferdinand Ludwig and the
Baubotanik team. They demonstrate proposals for living spaces, like exterior living rooms
to supplement single and multi-family living
space.
* These images are not for public distribution without permission from Ferdinand Ludwig
interior
rendering
section

14. Plane Tree Cube
Nagold, Germany
The Plane-Tree-Cube is a contribution to the regional horticultural show 2012 in Nagold, south
west of Stuttgart. It is the largest baubotanik
building to date and the first to be constructed
in an urban environment. The trees used are
the “Plane tree”, most similar to American
sycamore. The initial structure is quite heavy including 36 tonnes of steel which will be 25 after
the temporary scaffolding is removed. Also 20
tonnes of earth in the planter boxes will also to
be removed.
section /
summer
section /
winter
tanik:
logy
view of
scaffolding
and inner
courtyard
Case Study:
Baubotanik
Nagold Tower is set to
open Spring 2012

15. Case Study:
Eco Boulevard
Living plants, sun
and wind are
used to create
micro-climates
and generate
electricity
Eco Boulevard
Madrid
Eco Boulevard is a pilot project in Vallecas, a
suburb of Madrid by Urban Ecosystem (Belinda
Tato and Diego José Luis Vallejo García) to test
the climatic adaptation of outdoor spaces.
components
in axo
structure
tree 1: “mediático” media
The “trees” are made with recycled materials
like linoleum, steel and concrete. The structure
stands about 60 metres tall with a radius of 29
metres.
tree 1: “lúdico” playful
tree 1: “mediático”

16. wind turbine
refrigeration
conduit
crawling
plants
water mist
collected from
plants cools
air further
tubular air
space
lights
skin protects
from sand,
wind and
debris
earth for
plants
wind break
and barrier
to preserve
microclimate
Eco Boulevard
Madrid
Case Study:
Eco Boulevard
photovoltaic panel

17. Case Study:
Eco Boulevard
Title
16 tubular
conduits create
a micro-climate
Eco Boulevard
Madrid
The “tree” cylinder is made up of sixteen tubular conduits with wind catchers at the top. The
wind catchers have sensors which expell air
hotter than 27 º C. The rest is pushed down and
cooled by water spray from the plants in the
wall. This reduces the air temperature by 10 º C.
It also purifies toxins in the air.
interior
view with
plants
solar panels
wind intake
cool air vent

18. Case Study:
Eco Boulevard
interior showing
structure and plants
Eco Boulevard
Madrid
view of
interior
ceiling
view
sunken
plaza helps
promote
micro-climate
by providing
a sheltered
space
columns
at grade

19. Case Study:
Park Supermarket
model view of
supermarket
landscape
Park Supermarket
Netherlands
The Park Supermarket was designed by Van
Bergen Kolpa Architects of Rotterdam. This
“landscape supermarket” will be used for cultivating and selling food with departments for
rice, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
The project includes inter-dependant energy
and growing systems and micro climates using,
for example, “warmth accumulating snake
walls and more contemporary solutions as insulating water spray ‘roofs’ and floor heating on
the basis of thermal warmth.”
plan view
section showing micro
climate strategies

20. Case Study:
Fab Tree Hab
Section of Fab Tree Hab
Fab Tree Hab
USA
Mitchell Joachim, Ph.D. of Massachusetts
Institute of Technology on the Human Ecology
Design team, has designed a home made of
living plants, called Fab Tree Hab.
detail of facade
showing water
collection,
ventilation, and
root system in
section
section
Solar radiation is linked to the importance of
water cycles in the structure. In the winter,
sun shines in the south windows, heating the
thermal mass inside. In summer the overhanging roof shades the interior and uses the sun
for photo-synthesis. A buoyancy-driven ventilation draws in cooler air at floor level. Solar
hot water activates radiant floor pipes. The
roof-top harvests water for human activity. A
composting system recycles human waste and
grey water which returns nutrients to the ecosystem.
stages of
development

21. Historical:
Living Root Bridges
Umshiang Double-Decker
Root Bridge
Living Root Bridges
India
Using a species of Indian Rubber Tree, people
have been growing Living Root Bridges for
more than 500 years. Using a hollowed out
tree trunk as a guide, they force the roots to
grow straight out across a river. In ten to fifteen
years, the bridges are strong enough to carry
humans, some bridges up to fifty people.
detail of bridge
Indian root bridge
As they are alive and still growing, they continue to get stronger over time.

22. Arthur Wiechula
Germany
conceptual
drawing of bridge
supported by
living trees
conceptual
drawing of living
tree house
Wiechula (1868 - 1941) was a German
landscape engineer who explored “arborsculpture.” He believed it was absurd to cut
down trees and saw them into planks when
buildings could be made of living plants. He
exploited the possibility of trees to be grafted
together in a structural pattern.
sketch of
grafted
cross-knot
Historical:
Arthur Wiechula
tree grafting
and shaping by
Arthur Wiechula

23. Konstantin Kirsch
Germany
Konstantin Kirsch (born 1966) lives in Bauhaus,
Germany. He has conducted research for living
architecture since 1986. He is very involved in
the permaculture movement and inspired
the Baubotanik researchers.
example of
tree grafting
structure
Konstanin
Kirsch in his
living tree
chair
inside the
“Ash Dome”
Historical:
Konstantin Kirsch
“Living” room
by Konstantin Kirsch

24. Historical:
Rudolph Doernach
Rudolph Doernach
Germany
In the early 1960s, architect Rudolph Doernach
investigated a marine colony made of living plant material, a form of “Biotecture” in a
form he coined Hydropolis. He was interested
in creating a material like a polymer made of
self-generating raw materials and a built-in
intelligence. He envisioned the dwellings as living, floating islands.
Doernach’s sketches
of “Hydropolis”

25. Historical:
Hundertwasser
growing roof top
by Hundertwasser,
Vienna, Austria
Hundertwasser
Austria
Friedensreich Huntertwasser (1928 - 2000) was
an artist who was also interested in architecture and environmental issues. Hundertwasser
focused on a type of architecture in harmony
with nature. He promoted the preservation of
the natural environment and “demanded a life
in accordance with the laws of nature.”
The drawing on the left demonstrates his commitment to promoting natural life cycles in
building. He designed composting toilets and
integrated the principles of a constructed wetland.
Hundertwasser’s
diagram of a
living house

26. by project
Baubotanik
Most information was collected through two
interviews on January 16, 2012:
- Ferdinand Ludwig, Institute for Basics of Modern Architecture (IGMA), University of Stuttgart
- Moritz Bellers from the Institute of Landscape
Planning and Ecology at the University of
Stuttgart
“Living Plant Constructions,” Ferdinand Ludwig
official website, accessed January 12, 2012,
http://www.ferdinandludwig.com/footbridge.
html
“Baubotanik,” Baubotanik: Background of
a Building Technique, accessed January 10,
2012, http://www.baubotanik.de/
Other information was gathered from site visits
to the Nagold Tower project. Photographs are
courtesy of Ferdinand Ludwig or personal photographs of Beth MacLeod and Holly Simon.
They may not be published on line or for broad
distribution without permission.
Eco Boulevard
Park Supermarket
“Park Supermarket,” van Bergen Kolpa Architecten, accessed January 7, 2012, http://
www.vanbergenkolpa.nl/en/83_park_supermarket.html
“Park Supermarket by Kolpa Architects will
grow food onsite,” EcoFriend, accessed January 7, 2012, http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/
park-supermarket-by-kolpa-architects-willgrow-food-onsite/
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
* Images and information were collected from the
following websites.
Root Bridges
“The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji,“ Atlas Obscura, accessed January 15, 2012, http://
atlasobscura.com/place/root-bridges-cherrapungee
“Living Root Bridges,” Living Root Bridges Blog,
accessed January 15, 2012, ht tp://rootbridges.blogspot.com/
Arthur Wiechula
image (two black and white side by side)
http://www.ingomittelstaedt.com/index.php?/
blog/
“History of Arborsculpture,” Design Boom: Arthur Wiechula (1868 - 1941), accessed Janury
17, 2012, http://www.designboom.com/eng/
education/trees_wiechula.html
“ECOSISTEMA URBANO ARQUITECTOS,” MIMOA Modern Architecture, accessed February 19, 2012, http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/
Spain/Madrid/Eco%20Boulevard
Konstantin Kirsch
Images are from the above sites and Kevin Lo.
“Primitive Hut” from Introduction source:
Architnet Discussion Forum http://archinect.
com/forum/thread/56986/grow-your-ownhome
Fab Tree Hab
M. Joachim, “Fab Tree Hab,” 306090 08:
Autonomous Urbanism, Monson & Duval, ed.,
Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.
M. Joachim, J. Arbona, L. Greden, “Fab Tree
Hab,” Thresholds Journal #26 DENATURED, MIT,
2003.
“Local Biota Living Graft Structure,” Whole
Ecological Design, accessed February 18,
2012, http://www.archinode.com/bienal.html
Images are from the last website listed.
“The Tree Dome,” Konstantin Kirsch Project
Website, accessed January 24, 2012. http://
www.treedome.com/
Rudolf Doernach
“SeaFoam,” The Millenial Project 2.0, accessed
January 18, 2012, http://tmp2.wikia.com/wiki/
SeaFoam
Hundertwasser
“Friedensreich Hundertwasser,” Wikipedia, accessed January 10, 2012, http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Friedensreich_Hundertwasser
“Roots: Hundertwasser, Veg.itect,” Veg.itecture: Beyond Green, accessed January 19,
2012, http://www.vegitecture.net/2008/09/
hundertwasser.html
Techniques
“Eco Boulevard in Vallecas,” WikiArchitectura, accessed February 18, 2012, http://
en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Eco_Boulevard_in_Vallecas