![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-11.jpg)
Roots by Kai Linke
Cologne 2010: Frankfurt designer Kai Linke is working on a project to grow furniture from plant roots.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-7.jpg)
Linke explained the project, called Roots, at the Dezeentalks at [D3] Design Talents in Cologne last week; his experiments so far involve cultivating fast-growing plants such as grass, cress, bulbs and bamboo and chanelling their roots into a miniature chair-shaped mould.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-24.jpg)
Once the roots have completely filled the mould it is removed, leaving a scale model of a piece of furniture.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-5.jpg)
This exploration is the first stage of a long term project, which Linke hopes will result in a full size chair made of roots.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-13.jpg)
We'll post the movies from the Dezeentalks soon, including Linke interviewed by Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-9.jpg)
See all our stories about Cologne 2010 in our Cologne tag.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-22.jpg)
Here's some more information from Linke:
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Deformation
Roots By Kai Linke
The idea referring to this concept arises out of the abstract conflict of deformations in nature.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-21.jpg)
Deformations can be caused by human hand consciously or by coincidence.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-19.jpg)
The intervention of humans into the growth of a plant can be described as deformation.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-15.jpg)
The human is the activator for a modified plant-growth. The plant is disturbed to develop itself in a natural way.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-3.jpg)
In different trials with help of grass, cress, bulbs, bamboo and hyacinths the rooting-growths was analysed.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-25.jpg)
The roots were channelled into shapes in different culture mediums until they filled those shapes completely.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-20.jpg)
After the roots have conquered the whole space – similar to a plant in a pot that is too small – the shape has been taken away.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-16.jpg)
Remaining are the roots, formed into the shapes of stools and tables.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-17.jpg)
The material wood, in this case root wood is forced already during it’s growth into a desired shape and not as usual by human deforming of the outside to the material into the desired shape.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-14.jpg)
This concept is depending a natural circumstance such as: weather, water dung, potting soil and the paste in which the root fills the form.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Roots-by-Kai-Linke-18.jpg)
The above-mentioned plant groups are suitable for trials in smaller measures. In a long-term experiment – that will be going on for years – trials will be observed in a measure of 1 by 1. Result out of this will be the “Root Chair”.