20 Aug 2010, Posted by Admin in Blog, No Comments. Tagged architecture, India, indigenious, living architecture, nature, root bridges

Living Root Bridges

Here’s one of the most ingenious ideas on living architecture: India’s Living Root Bridges.

Cherrapunji in northwestern India is supposed to be the wettest place on earth. The War-Khasis, a tribe in Meghalaya, long ago noticed that the powerful roots of  Ficus Elastica tree and saw in it, an opportunity to easily cross the area’s many rivers. And they began to grow their own bridges! These roots can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves.

Now, whenever and wherever the need arises, they simply grow their bridges.