In Japan, architecture and construction firm Takenaka Corporation will unveil temporary, 3D-printed structures made from plant-based resin that will turn into forests once their usable life is over. Straight-forwardly called Architecture that Becomes a Forest, the project is being displayed at the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka.
As part of the interactive experience, children will be invited to attach seed paper to the pavilion and continuing watering and caring for the budding plants as the structures biodegradae. Eventually, trees will mark the location.
Takenaka told designboom the exhibition aims to invoke a new approach to sustainable building design. “The process reflects a shift in values from ownership to shared experiences and sustainability, demonstrating how architecture can create a lasting legacy by becoming a natural part of its surroundings,” it said.