TreeSoil is an earthen structure produced through robotic 3D printing, designed to protect young trees in degraded environments by creating microclimates favorable to early growth. Drawing on ancient agricultural practices, where soil and stone were shaped into protective structures for crops, TreeSoil reenacts these methods through computational design and robotic fabrication.
To enhance sapling survival rates, each TreeSoil prototype is informed by local climatic data, optimizing airflow, solar radiation, and moisture retention. Its interlocking brick geometry enables modularity, structural integrity, and efficient on-site assembly. The material composition is based on locally sourced soil, enhanced with waste-derived fertilizers and bio-based binders, and engineered to respond both to the site’s climate conditions and the nutritional needs of the sapling. Fully biodegradable, TreeSoil gradually disintegrates into the earth, enriching it as the tree it protects matures.
Developed at the Technion’s Material Topology Research Lab (MTRL) in collaboration with the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Tree Lab, TreeSoil bridges computational design and robotic fabrication with ecological knowledge, turning each prototype into a living laboratory for environmental resilience.
Printed using robotic extrusion (KUKA arm with WASP LDM XXXL extruder and WASP Pump); parametric toolpaths and dry assembly. Software included Rhino/Grasshopper; climate and solar analysis with Ladybug Tools, and custom kit for temperature, humidity, light, and soil moisture with Arduino logging. Materials: Soil, sand, clay, bio-based binder, fibre, and waste-derived nutrients.
Credits: Material Topology Research Lab (MTRL), Technion Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning; Tree Lab, Weizmann Institute of Science. Research & Design Lead: Ofer Asaf; Academic Advisors: Profs. Aaron Sprecher, Arnon Bentur, Tamir Klein; Video & Stills Direction, Cinematography & Edit: Tamir Faingold; Still Photography: Edo Asoulin; Creative Direction: Dana Zelig.
