The dynamic relationship between plants and structure has been explored at least since the time of Pliny the Elder (23-79), when thin sheets of talc arranged on frames were used to shelter delicate crops, thereby increasing yields. Permutations of that experiment evolved since antiquity, promoting innovation in architecture, horticulture, and related fields in the arts and sciences. In architecture, for example, the structural systems of early greenhouses are well-documented precursors for the use of glass in modern architecture, initiating a revolution in construction technology and the production of space. Although divisions between disciplines have effectively parsed the synthetic study of plants and structure, a dynamism persists between them and continues to generate new and interesting forms, ranging from cryogenic germplasm repositories entombed in bedrock, to vegetation-bearing architectures such as the vertical garden and green roof. This studio/workshop explores the dynamic relationship between plants and structure as a persistent theme in architecture and landscape, and as a burgeoning area of research with relevancy in the contemporary built environment.
