I’ve written before about what makes something architecture. It is something that I think we should be keenly interested in while being not that worried about it. Definitions are dangerous. A definition is just what this project, the ‘Cattedrale Vegetale’- designed by artist Giuliano Mauri, defies.
Photography by © Redazione
Built in the dimensions of a gothic cathedral, there are three naves constructed of 8o columns of plaited twigs. These stretch 12 meters in height and are 1 m in diameter. Within each column, which act as scaffolding for the future, is planted a single young hornbeam plant. These will grow, with the help of pruning, to the shape of the columns until one day when the scaffolding has rotted away, the cathedral is left constructed entirely of living plants.
Photography by © Redazione
The cathedral is open from every direction as a place of passage or that of silent, unmoving contemplation. It is hoped that it will become a backdrop for the creative disciplines, a place to marvel in the true blending of manmade nature.
Photography by © Redazione
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.