Baubotanik is a building method in which architectural structures are created through the interaction of technical joints and plant growth.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/ The term entails the practice of designing and building living structures using living plants.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/ In this regard, living and non-living elements are intertwined in such a way that they grow together into plant-technical composite structures.Ludwig, Ferdinand, et al. “Baubotanik.” Future Architecture, futurearchitectureplatform.org/projects/537905c7-70ab-4bbb-a4a9-3ef833f1c078/
The Baubotanik method combines the aesthetic and ecological qualities of living trees with the static functions and structural requirements of buildings, thereby reducing the need for artificial building materials.Ludwig, F.; Storz, O.; Schwertfeger, H.: Living Systems. Designing Growth in Baubotanik. Architectural Design Journal, 2012, S. 82–87 The structures provide valuable habitats for a variety of animal species and make conventional foundations redundant, due to their root anchorage.Ludwig, F.; Storz, O.; Schwertfeger, H.: Living Systems. Designing Growth in Baubotanik. Architectural Design Journal, 2012, S. 82–87
The use of Baubotanik is not a new invention and can be found in various historical and cultural contexts, such as the Tanzlinden (“dancing lime”) tree in Germany and living root bridge in North-East India.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/ Common in the Indian state of Meghalaya and grown by the Khasi and Jaintia, the bridges consist of the aerial roots of rubber fig trees (Ficus elastica) and are grown over rivers to form walkable bridges.Ludwig, Ferdinand & Middleton, Wilfrid & Gallenmüller, Friederike & Rogers, Patrick & Speck, Thomas. (2019). Living bridges using aerial roots of ficus elastica – an interdisciplinary perspective. Scientific Reports. 9. 10.1038/s41598-019-48652-w. While the process can take fifteen years to complete, the bridges can be reinforced with natural materials and can withstand the strongest tropical storms.Sturco, Giulio Di. “Surreal Photos of India's Living Root Bridges.” Pictures of Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya, India, 16 Mar. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/india/living-root-bridges-clean-village-mwalynnong-india/ Furthermore, since the turn of the millennium, ‘willow churches’ (made of willow rods and lacking a fixed roof) have been constructed on various former garden show grounds, yet provide only limited functionality as buildings.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/
Research An early publication in this field of study was the article Baubotanik: Mit lebenden Pflanzen konstruieren (translating to “Baubotanik: Designing with Living Plants) by Ferdinand Ludwig and Oliver Storz in 2005 in the magazine Baumeister.Ludwig, Ferdinand & Storz, Oliver. (2005). Baubotanik – Mit lebenden Pflanzen konstruieren. Baumeister. 72 - 75 The term “Baubotanik” was defined in 2007 at the Institute of Theory of Architecture and Design (Institut für Grundlagen moderner Architektur und Entwerfen) at the University of Stuttgart, where its concept was scientifically further developed.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/ Within the scope of the research, simple experimental buildings were constructed, such as a footbridge and a Baubotanik tower that illustrated the possibilities of creating larger Baubotanik structures by adding individual plants.“Baubotanik Tower.” Ferdinand Ludwig Baubotanik, www.ferdinandludwig.com/baubotanik-tower/articles/baubotanik-tower.html.Wang, Lucy. “Living Baubotanik Tree Tower Rises in Germany.” Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building, 4 Sept. 2016, inhabitat.com/baubotanik-young-trees-are-molded-into-living-breathing-buildings/ Moreover, a two-story bird-watching station was planted in the town of Waldkirchen as part of the Bavarian State Horticultural Show 2007. Subsequently, a three-story plane tree cube was created for the Baden-Württemberg State Horticultural Show 2012 in Nagold.“Plane-Tree-Cube Nagold.” Ferdinand Ludwig Baubotanik, www.ferdinandludwig.com/plane-tree-cube-nagold/articles/plane-tree-cube-nagold.html.
Since 2017, the Baubotanik field of research has been based at the Professorship for Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture at the Technical University of Munich.“Baubotanik.” Baubotanik - Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture, Technical University of Munich, www.ar.tum.de/en/gtla/research/baubotanik/
See also
References
Literature Middleton, Wilfrid & Habibi, Amin & Shankar, Sanjeev & Ludwig, Ferdinand. (2020). Characterizing Regenerative Aspects of Living Root Bridges. Sustainability. 12. 10.3390/su12083267. Open access article link Well, Friederike & Ludwig, Ferdinand. (2020). Blue-green architecture: A case study analysis considering the synergetic effects of water and vegetation. 9. 191–202. 10.1016/j.foar.2019.11.001. Open access article link Ludwig, Ferdinand & Middleton, Wilfrid & Gallenmüller, Friederike & Rogers, Patrick & Speck, Thomas. (2019). Living bridges using aerial roots of ficus elastica – an interdisciplinary perspective. Scientific Reports. 9. 10.1038/s41598-019-48652-w. Open access article link Ludwig, Ferdinand & Schönle, Daniel & Vees, Ute. (2016). Baubotanik - Building Architecture with Nature. International Online Journal Biotope City. PDF download and open access article link Ludwig, Ferdinand & Mihaylov, Boyan & Schwinn, Tobias. (2013). Emergent Timber: A tool for designing the growth process of Baubotanik structures PDF download and open access article link
External links Ferdinand Ludwig, TEDxTUM, Designing living buildings with trees Faculty of Architecture, Technical University of Munich, GTLA research (Professorship of Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture) Baubotanik shapes living tree branches into building facades Youtube video: Kirsten Dirksen Baubotanik: Ein Hybrid von Natur und Technik Youtube video: EGGER Group ArchDaily: Baubotanik - The Botanically Inspired Design System That Creates Living Buildings ArchDaily Grow Your Own Building with Baubotanik Architecture Grow Your Own Building with Baubotanik Architecture