horticultural building systems

Horticultural Building Systems are defined here as the instance where vegetation and

an architectural system exist in a mutually defined and intentionally designed

relationship that supports plant growth and an architectonic concept. This definition

allows for the history of Horticultural Building Systems to be traced through the

seemingly disparate evolutions of horticultural and architectural technology that link

the glass house and Crystal Palace to modern architecture and current trends in

green architecture. Theories of tectonic culture, modern architecture, and

horticultural innovation are placed in direct dialogue with patents and architectural

case studies to elucidate a history of Horticultural Building Systems that is inclusive

of tectonic, technologic, typological and horticultural histories.

As the desire for Horticultural Building Systems grows culturally so will the need for

critical dialogue and peer review in horticulture, landscape, and architecture alike.

The rise of Horticultural Building Systems in speculative and built architecture leaves

many questions unanswered, as every site and system becomes a new architectural

and horticultural experiment. A disparity exists between the ubiquity of “green” or

vegetated building systems in architectural and what is actually known about the

design, construction, history, and theory of these experimental systems. This

disparity represents fertile ground for collaborative research and future pedagogies

that integrate horticultural sciences, building system engineering, architecture and

landscape. The “Horticultural Building System Studio”, taught at the University of

Oregon, will be presented as a case study for this multidisciplinary design and

research.

Precast Concrete Vertical Garden Prototype

DECOMPOSING PAVER - SAWDUST FORM

DECOMPOSING PAVER - MORE TEST SEED MIX

DECOMPOSING PAVER - GINKGO FORM

DECOMPOSING PAVER - CAST FOR A CAST

DECOMPOSING PAVER - TEST CONCRETE WATER

This is test to see how much water the test concrete would hold. After allowing the concrete to absorb the water, it proved to hold a significant amount.

DECOMPOSING PAVER - TEST STACK FORM

DECOMPOSING PAVER - TEST CAST STACK WOOD FORM

This attempt was to create a form from piling it the two types of concrete and turning it over. However, after finishing the form, I abandoned the process due to the liquid quality of the concrete texture.

DECOMPOSING PAVER - TEST CAST STACK PAINT

I created three of these templates. This time consuming process required 4 laser cut birch plywood cutouts to be glued together (per form; total of 12 cutouts) and sanded carefully to remove any ridges. I then painted the surface and coated it with oil. After two trials this process proved futile due to the paint creating ridges that would catch the finished concrete.

Planted Verticle Garden!

The installed garden utilizes 3 tiered grow sites and was tied into the sprinkler irrigation at the Courthouse Garden.

The three layer mesh system holds the substrate and also promotes vertical plant growth!

Mounted directly to the wall the precast garden offers a one of a kind garden site that can be expanded horizontally!

Proud craftsmanship beside the four by five foot garden.

The real test is to see how the plants respond to their new growing environment.