Will Swedish architects Visiondivision really be able to grow a building out of trees?



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It seems to make sense, since we're 3-D printing anything from prosthetics to iPhone cases, why can't we "print" a building... using trees... that won't be finished for 100 YEARS. That's right, Swedish architects Visiondivision have designed a 2-story "study retreat" on the Politecnico di Milano campus in Milan. Yeah, I know people shape trees into chairs like this one:

Urban Splatter 

Swag level: off the charts

But an entire building? That seems a bit far-fetched, not to mention it will have to be continuously shaped and maintained for 100+ years. In the structure itself, titled "The Patient Gardener", two of the trees will be woven together to form a staircase, leading to the second floor in the combined canopy of the trees. The design itself seems reasonable, but weather or not this will actually be maintained for the estimated 100 years it will take to form the structure will be interesting to see.
Full details and pictures (Dezeen) 

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