Baubotanik

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/baubotanik

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the construction methodology?Integration of living plants and technical engineering for structural purposes
2. What is the historical precedents?Tanzlinden (Germany), Living Root Bridges (Meghalaya, India)
3. How do trees grow into a bridge or house?Engineers guide the roots and branches with special supports, so the plants grow where they need to and join together to make a solid structure.
4. Why use trees instead of concrete or steel?Using trees saves a lot of energy and materials, keeps the environment cleaner, and lets the building grow and repair itself over time.

Baubotanik: An architectural and engineering discipline focused on growing structures using living plants and technical components.
Phytotechnology: The use of plants for technological applications, such as construction, remediation, or energy production.
Plant-Technical Composite Structures: Buildings or infrastructure elements formed by the fusion of living plant tissues and engineered materials.
Aerial Roots: Roots that emerge from above the ground, typically from stems or branches, often used for support or anchorage.