3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings

TreeSoil system utilizes locally sourced soil mixed with sand, clay, and natural binders for fabrication.

Ofer Asaf edited by christina vergopoulou October 25, 2025 4 min

TreeSoil protective microclimate supports early growth of trees

TreeSoil is a robotic 3D printed earthen shelter designed to create microclimates that support the early growth of young trees. Developed at the Technion’s Material Topology Research Lab (MTRL) in collaboration with the Tree Lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science, the project integrates architecture, material science, and plant biology to explore how design can actively assist ecological regeneration.

The project draws on ancient agricultural techniques used in arid landscapes, where stone or earthen enclosures shield crops and saplings from wind, sun, and evaporation. TreeSoil reinterprets these methods through computational design and robotic fabrication, transforming soil into a modular, interlocking system that mediates between technology and ecology. Each structure is composed of modular bricks produced through large-scale robotic extrusion. The design uses local climatic data, including solar radiation, wind patterns, and humidity, to optimize conditions for the sapling at its center. Its porous geometry enables airflow and shading, while the thermal mass of the earthen material helps regulate temperature and moisture, supporting root establishment and early growth.

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 1 — all images by Edo Asoulin

biodegradable TreeSoil system returns to earth as trees mature

The material system combines locally sourced soil with sand, clay, and bio-based binders derived from cellulose and organic fibers. In some prototypes, biochar and other waste-derived nutrients are added to enhance soil stability and structural integrity. The mixture is tested for rheological, mechanical, and erosion properties to ensure printability and environmental compatibility. Components are fabricated using a KUKA KR50 robotic arm and a WASP LDM XXXL extrusion system, built layer by layer, naturally dried, and assembled on-site without adhesives. The resulting structure is fully biodegradable and gradually disintegrates as the tree matures, returning nutrients to the soil.

TreeSoil positions architecture as a temporary, adaptive, and regenerative infrastructure rather than a permanent form. Its design emphasizes the relationship between vegetation and the land, creating a controlled microclimate while integrating technology, soil, and plant life into a responsive ecological system. The design team at Material Topology Research Lab names the project TreeSoil to reflect the fundamental relationship between vegetation and the land it emerges from.

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 2 — the completed TreeSoil shelter stands within the reforestation site, merging earthen architecture, robotics, and ecology into a living system of care

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 3 — top view of the TreeSoil structure illustrating its internal cavity, where airflow, shading, and soil moisture create favorable growth conditions

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 4 — close-up view of the final layers being assembled, showing the precise interlocking geometry and the protected carob sapling within

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 5 — researchers assemble the modular earthen units of TreeSoil around a young sapling, forming the base structure for the microclimate shelter

3D printed interlocking bricks compose earthen microclimate shelter for tree saplings - 6 — carrying water and saplings to the planting site. each TreeSoil installation is positioned to respond to local topography and site conditions

treesoil-robotic-3d-printed-earthen-microclimate-shelter-designboom-1800-2 — freshly printed TreeSoil bricks are set to dry naturally. their interlocking geometry provides both structural integrity and porosity for environmental exchange

a series of modular earthen units produced through robotic extrusion at the Technion's Advanced Construction Center (TACC), demonstrating geometric precision and repeatability a KUKA robotic arm equipped with a WASP LDM extruder fabricates the first TreeSoil modules layer by layer from the prepared earthen mixture microclimate and performance simulations guide the geometry of the printed modules, optimizing airflow, solar radiation, and humidity for tree growth researchers evaluate the workability and consistency of soil-based mixture to ensure printability for robotic extrusion a local soil-based mixture, composed of soil, clay, sand, fibers, and bio-based additives, is blended to achieve optimal properties for 3D printing

project info:

name: TreeSoil
designer: Material Topology Research Lab | @mtrlab, Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa Research

design team: Ofer Asaf, Aaron Sprecher

research & design lead: Ofer Asaf

academic advisors: Profs. Aaron Sprecher, Arnon Bentur, Tamir Klein

research assistants: Tair Shekel, Aviv Shabo

video & stills, direction, cinematography & edit: Tamir Faingold

still photography: Edo Asoulin

creative direction: Dana Zelig

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