Words: Helen & Hard

Can we design a building as smart as a tree?

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, curated by Carlo Ratti and titled ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective,’ questions the role of the architect and how the mindset of climate “mitigation” must be shifted to that of climate “adaptation”.

Driven by the question: “Can we design a building as smart as a tree?”, Helen & Hard aim to rethink architectural design and production.

Inspired by the versatility of the humble tree and the unique qualities of wood, we envision a future where regenerative design will redefine architecture through the intelligent and resource-efficient use of wood and integrated wood systems. These multifunctional and relational wood systems are our answer to the pressing issues and complex design challenges of today.

The goal is to create spaces that are both innovative and inspiring, seamlessly blending nature and technology for an immersive and adaptive architectural experience. 

One example of such a space is the SR-Bank Headquarters in Stavanger, a project which demonstrates how relational wood systems encourage physical affordance and spatial organisation across all scales.

The structures found in relational wood systems have an additional role in organising the spaces and individual components of buildings. They establish connections across different scales, from urban planning to human-scale perception, enhancing the tactile and experiential qualities of large-scale architecture.

The doweled timber frame structure of the SR-Bank Headquarters, with its natural materials and exposed wooden joinery details, encourages a healthy, thriving and transparent work environment.

Read more about The Financial Park here.

Resource efficiency through interconnection

Relational wood systems serve as a tool to bind the spatial, technical, and human requirements in a building, enabling innovative and resource-efficient synergies.

The Vennesla Library is a strong example, where a portal of multifunctional timber ribs shape a public space while simultaneously serving as ventilation, infrastructure, furniture, roofing, and a load-bearing structure. It is a fusion of form, function, and material efficiency.

Read more about Vennesla Library here.

Unique and healthy atmospheres weaved from architecture and context

Through the interweaving of architecture and context, unique atmospheres emerge. Buildings become integral to their environment, engaging in a layered yet harmonious dialogue with their surroundings.

The Maggie’s Centre emphasises this relationship through its a grid-shell timber structure, which hovers gently over an open-plan space. The seemingly lightweight framework creates a seamless, fluid connection to nature, while a central skylight filters natural light through the lattice of the timer, casting dynamic patterns that evolve throughout the day. The architecture frames views of the surrounding landscape and the sky, emphasising the shifting beauty of the seasons and their continuous interaction with the building’s internal atmosphere.

Enhancing natural materials through advanced digital technology

Relational wood systems contribute to the aesthetic and sensory experience of architecture by transcending purely functional relationships and transforming them into a refined design dialogue. These relational wood systems combine high-tech precision with low-tech craftsmanship, integrating advanced digital technologies with natural materials.

At the Retreat Sande, whole tree trunks and their roots were 3D scanned and digitally processed into columns with branching capitals. The approach of using the whole tree was inspired by traditional shipbuilding techniques. The trunk and root elements were upturned to form the structure and organised to enclose the internal spaces safely within their harsh coastal environment.

 

 

The Biennale Architettura 2025 is open until Sunday 23 November 2025.

Helen & Hard’s contribution can be viewed at the Arsenal.