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Sep 15, 2020

Living (Shade) Structure

Three metal shade structures with hexagonal patterns stand along a pathway with benches, in a suburban park with grass, trees, and houses in the background.Three metal shade structures with hexagonal patterns stand along a pathway with benches, in a suburban park with grass, trees, and houses in the background.
Three metal living shade structures with honeycomb-patterned tops stand in a grassy area, supporting climbing plants, with houses and trees in the background under a clear sky.Three metal living shade structures with honeycomb-patterned tops stand in a grassy area, supporting climbing plants, with houses and trees in the background under a clear sky.
Green vines weave through the hexagonal gaps of a dark metal shade structure, creating a living structure set against a clear sky.Green vines weave through the hexagonal gaps of a dark metal shade structure, creating a living structure set against a clear sky.
Hexagonal-patterned metal panels form a Living Shade Structure canopy, with green vines weaving through the openings against a clear sky.Hexagonal-patterned metal panels form a Living Shade Structure canopy, with green vines weaving through the openings against a clear sky.
Three metal shade structures with geometric tops stand along a curved sidewalk with benches and stone edging in a grassy park near residential houses.Three metal shade structures with geometric tops stand along a curved sidewalk with benches and stone edging in a grassy park near residential houses.
Hexagonal-patterned metal structure with a canopy shape is shown against a blue sky with the sun shining through it.Hexagonal-patterned metal structure with a canopy shape is shown against a blue sky with the sun shining through it.
Three metal structures with hexagonal-patterned roofs stand in a grassy park area near suburban houses under a partly cloudy sky.Three metal structures with hexagonal-patterned roofs stand in a grassy park area near suburban houses under a partly cloudy sky.
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The inspiration for the Living Infrastructure project was Nature itself. The specifier of this project, Hortikopia shared that they “had noticed a vine climbing on a dead tree. It completely covered the tree and almost created a new ‘tree canopy’ by virtue of the coverage.” Living Infrastructure is a solution to the problem of incorporating plant life into urban areas where soil may not be ideal, and the space required for mature tree roots is not available. The ‘tree-like’ frame of the Living Infrastructure is aesthetically beautiful on its own, and with the addition of climbing vines, it quickly becomes host to a wonderful natural green canopy.

Materials: Steel, laser cut steel
Specifier/Client: Hortikopia