Person

Ferdinand Ludwig

Ferdinand Ludwig is a pioneering architect in the field of “Living Plant Constructions” (Baubotanik). In the recent years he designed and realized highly regarded projects that combine growth processes of living plants with an engineering approach. In his PhD-studies, he develops multiple horticultural construction techniques and analysed botanical rules of growth to deduce construction rules for living plant constructions.

In 2007 he was one of the co-founders of the “Research Group Baubotanik” at the Institute of Architectural Theory at the University of Stuttgart (www.baubotanik.org/en). Since that time he organized different workshops and hold many lectures on Living Plant Constructions at the University of Stuttgart and worldwide.

Basic CV facts

2000-2006: Studying architecture at the University of Stuttgart

Since 2004: Working on the topic of „Living Plant Constructions“

2005: Realisation of a first prototype with a living plant construction (Footbridge)

2006: Diploma-Thesis (Design study of a living bridge); awards: diploma-price of the University of Stuttgart, Participants Favourite Archiprix International

2007 - 2009: Scholarship of the German Environment Foundation

Since 2007: PhD-project dealing with the botanical basics of Living Plant Constructions. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Gerd de Bruyn (IGMA, University of Stuttgart) and Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck (Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanical Gardens University of Freiburg)

Since 2007: Member of the research group „Baubotanik – Living Plant Constructions“ at the University of Stuttgart

Since 2008: Assistant professor at the Institute for Basics of Modern Architecture (IGMA), University of Stuttgart

Selected publications

Ludwig, F.; Storz, O.: Baubotanik – Mit lebenden Pflanzen Konsturieren, Baumeister (Zeitschrift für Architektur) November 2005, Callway-Verlag, München

Ludwig, F.: Bau(m)bionik - Baubotanik, Tragstrukturen aus lebenden Holzpflanzen. in: Brickwede, E. h. Fritz ;Erb, Rainer ;Lefèvre, Jörg ;Schwanke, Michael: Bionik und Nachhaltigkeit - Lernen von der Natur. p. 245-253; Berlin 2007

Ludwig F: Baubotanik – Trainierbare Tragwerk: Grundriss-Skizze einer Bauweise. In: de Bryun G, Ludwig F, Schwertfeger H. (eds.) Lebende Bauten – Trainierbare Tragwerk. pp. 19-44. Berlin 2009

Ludwig F, de Bruyn G, Thielen M, Speck T.: Plant stems as building material for living plant constructions. In: Thibaut B (ed.) Proceedings of the 6^th Plant Biomechanics Conference, French Guyana, France, pp. 398 – 405, Cayenne 2009

Ludwig F, Storz O.: Verwachsende Konstruktionen. Tec 21, Jg.135, Nr.29/30, 2009. pp. 19-22.

Selected lectures and workshops

2007: Archiprix International (Shanghai)

2008: Venice Biennale (Dark Side Club)

2008: Peter Cook’s Store Street Event (London)

2009: Plant Biomechanics Conference French Guayana

2010: Semaine de Jardin, Florence

2011: DAZ “Visionen und Visionäre”, Berlin