David Nash

(Wikipedia Entry for David Nash)

David Nash  is an artist who works in naturally sourced wood (windblown timber, local fellings for clearance - not commercially sourced planks/baulks). and has also produced several works he describes as "Living Sculptures".

The work that is closest to a living building was started in 1977 and is called "Ash Dome" (as an aside, domes of amateur astronomers are frequently made of aluminium over an ash dome). The work is not on public display - indeed its location is a secret. However there a number of pictures and even videos available that show the initial concept and its continuing development.

The video at on the Royal Academy site shows how the project has changed over time - the initial plans show an interlinked structure almost like a geodesic dome but as the trees have grown it is apparent that they have resisted this (or perhaps the artist has changed his vision) and continue as independent trunks. The growth of the trees seems less rapid than I would expect for ash - it is well known to be a fast growing tree.

The latest pictures (more than 30 years from the planting of the original saplings) don't really show the trees to have formed into a dome - however it looks like John Nash has chosen to prune and encourage the main trunks into a cone with each trunk having a zig-zag form that has resonances with the patterns on a North American tipi.

I think there are lessons to be drawn here about how nature may frustrate the aims of the arboarchitect and that to work with how the trees grow over time may be a more successful strategy than attempting to force the design onto the trees.

Visions of living buildings

A very early one this - published 1758. Emanuel Swedenborg describes a visionary tour through "Earths in the Universe" in which he describes the temples of one of these earths as follows:
 
"constructed of trees, not cut down, but growing in their native soil. They said that on their earth there were trees of wonderful growth and height. These from their beginnings they arrange in order, so that they serve for porticos and walks, and by cutting and pruning the branches when they are tender, they fit and prepare them so that while they are growing they may intertwine and unite to make the base and floor of the sanctuary, and rise on the sides for the walls, and bend above into arches for the roof.


By these means they construct the sanctuary with admirable art, elevated high above the earth, and they also prepare an ascent into it by successive branches of the trees extending out and firmly connected. Moreover they adorn the sanctuary without and within in various ways, by bending the leafy bows into various forms. Thus they build entire groves. But what these sanctuaries are within, I was not permitted to see. It was only told me that the light of their sun is let into them through apertures between the branches, and is here and there transmitted through crystals".