The Fab Tree Hab -- a home literally made from trees, using an ancient technique called pleaching (the art of weaving (and sometimes grafting) trees together to form structures) -- was one of the design entries for the Index: awards, emerging from the genius of a crew including MIT architect Mitchell Joachim and our friend, Javier Arbona of Archinect. The project description emphasized consideration of whole systems (and ecosystems) in creating a truly sustainable built environment, rather than a piecemeal approach that could yield uncertain longterm outcomes.
The rectangle is an endangered species. Future architecture promises to be more plastic and conducive to creative tinkering. Today's monochrome skylines may give way to a riot of biomorphism; buildings might look more like tumors than constructions as we know them.
"Pleaching" is only the start. Before long we should be able to grow simple structures on demand. As usual, technologies invented for practical use on Earth will have decided bearing on our expansion into the Solar System. When we terraform another planet, we may shun the plastic-and-metal sprawl of conventional space habitats in favor of self-directing organic architecture. We could seed Mars, for instance, and return to find it pocked with gourd-like homes held together by a fledgling infrastructure of engineered vines.
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