Planting Tensegrity Trees

The aim of this work is to propose a new idea for a central axis for public spaces. The aim is to substitute real trees with a new concept of nature-inspired tensegrity trees. Tensegrity systems are designed to match the behavior of real trees, by taking advantage of their flexibility and shape-change capabilities in order to suit aesthetic criteria and to respond to external inputs. By using actuators on a selected number of elements, we control the changes in the tensegrity structures’ spatial configuration, making them to act as ‘living’, growing, natural trees. Their geometry can be varied over time to respond to climate changes, so as to protect people from sunlight, wind and rain, while walking near them.