EFFEKT plants a miniature forest at the venice architecture biennale

copenhagen-based studio EFFEKT has planted a miniature forest at the 2021 venice architecture biennale, which will grow during the course of the six month event. in total, 1,200 tree seedlings have been planted in a growtable that is being controlled remotely from denmark. the forest surrounds seven of EFFEKT’s projects, which help form a fictional landscape of living trees. ‘our installation in venice showcases a series of ideas, concepts, strategies and designs for living and building, for producing, consuming and revitalizing the ecosystems we are part of and depend upon,’ EFFEKT shares with designboom.

all images by rasmus hjortshøj – COAST

titled ‘ego to eco’, the installation takes shape as a physical representation of a natural ecosystem, populated by research and design projects conceived by EFFEKT during recent years. the architects say that these projects offer potential solutions to the challenges of today and depict what it means to think and design ecosystems. ‘they investigate new ideas for living and building, for producing, consuming and revitalizing the ecosystems we are part of and depend upon,’ the studio continues.

the architectural prototypes were selected to spark curiosity in the visitors and promote discussion regarding new, resource-efficient ways of living and building. the seven projects seek to explore how we can design future communities rooted in the principles of nature. by asking the right questions and collaborating across sectors on projects such as these, EFFEKT strives to bridge the gap between cities and natural ecosystems for the mutual benefit of both human and non-human life.

the presented projects include the forest tower, responding to the question: ‘can architecture help people reconnect with nature?, and the nature village, responding to the question: ‘can real estate development enable ecological restoration?’. ‘everyone on this planet is all part of the same ecosystem — and by thinking and acting accordingly we believe we can find answer to urgent questions,’ EFFEKT tells designboom.

the recirculating irrigation technology pumps water and nutrients to the roots of the plants through an ebb-and-flow growtable, with excess water drained and collected in a tank below. pressure, humidity, and temperature sensors are connected to a controller box, that enables real-time monitoring and operation of the system, offering optimal growing conditions for the plants. the one-year-old trees of of pinus sylvestris, picea abies, pinus sitchensisa and larix eurolepis will grow over the course of six months and will be planted at the end of the exhibition as a part of the firm’s ‘nature village’. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here, and our ongoing coverage of the 2021 venice architecture biennale here.