Our explorations started with this first experiment, which is made from tape: We decided to continue our exploration of this typology of material, which is notable for its continuity and its bending properties. As we played around with different configurations of the ribbon, we discovered emergent properties, such as its ability to stretch. Inspired by fractals and the idea of growth, we were curious to see how this material could grow and multiply organically. In the following pictures, we can see axial, concentric, and complex forms of growth. Finally, this experimentation led to our 3d model, in which we curved the entire surface and discovered even more fascinating geometries, such as wormholes. In the meantime, for our growth system, we were inspired by the Three Sisters, in which beans, corn, and squash are grown together and form a symbiotic relationship in which the corn provides a structural pole for the beans, which fix nitrogen for the corn, and the squash covers the surrounding soil, retaining water and repelling pests. This form of agriculture is known as companion planting, which is a type of polyculture. Growing different crops together makes efficient use of land, which in turn increases biodiversity and resilience.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to potential growing combinations of different plants – and even more if one includes non-edible plants and also the faunal domain. One of our form system’s greatest advantages is its flexibility and morphability. Applied to the site, this form could be used to reduce soil erosion on a slope, to control the amount of light received by plants, to create different layers and orientations of growth, and so on. The next phase of our project will involve additional exploration of the application of this form and how it can be integrated most effectively with polyculture.