¶ Trees (3)
Index Entry
Trees:
"These are clearly differentiated tension-compression structures which I call tensional integrities, or tensegrity, structures. This, as we shall see, is exactly the structure of the tree.
"Tension and compression are complementary functions of structure. Therefore, as functions they only coexist. . . .
"The tree has an excellent structural lesson to teach us in the efficiency of its tensegrity structure’s clearly differentiated tension and compression patternings. . . Ancient man, wanting a spanning procedure used wood. Wood has 100 times stone’s ultimate tensile strength, or about 5,000 p.s.i. But the wood beams eventually rotted out or burned, which is why today we find only the vertical stone compressive elements of antique man’s great building ventures. . . . Clearly we see that compressive capability has to be augmented to match our high tensile ability.
“It is the tree that can teach us this for nature has a very great trick in relation to all of these structural strategies.”
¶ Citations
- Syracuse Address, P.57-59, 7 Nov '67
