Trees, Time, Architecture!

Trees are among the largest, oldest, and most complex living organisms on Earth, and they also grow exceptionally slowly – often taking decades or even centuries to reach their full size. This means they exceed human lifespans, and their temporality is at odds with the ever-accelerating pace of social, technological, and ecological change. At the same time, we need trees now more than ever to help solve the problem of climate change. With their large canopies, trees significantly reduce temperatures in urban heat islands and maintain the quality of life for a growing urban population through shade and evaporation. However, trees are also increasingly becoming victims of climate change, threatened by drought, storms, hail, and the spread of new diseases.

‘Trees, Time, Architecture!’ explores the potential and contradictions of ‘building on trees’ in architecture and landscape architecture. For the first time, an exhibition project addresses the topic area of trees, time, and architecture from a holistic, multidimensional perspective. Concrete project examples from diverse cultural contexts and climatic zones demonstrate the need for a fundamental paradigm shift: moving away from designing finished objects and towards designing processes to foster a fruitful and sustainable relationship between trees and buildings.

The exhibition aims to highlight this fascinating relationship, for only then can we see the possibilities and seize the opportunities to create a future worth living for ourselves and most animal and plant species. This requires transdisciplinary collaborations that combine scientific approaches, artistic practices, indigenous knowledge, and new technologies. The research, prototypes, and experiments of the ‘Baubotanik’ research area at the Technical University of Munich, among others, illustrate what this could resemble.

Opening: 12.3.2025, 7 pm