Lebanese Cedar
‘Chosen for its magic’
Tadao Ando
The international competition drew over 350 entries from artists, designers, and architects. In January 2004, 35 proposals underwent technical review before Tadao Ando selected the winners, of which our entry was awarded joint First Place.
The design supports the dead tree with a cable net, preserving its form while allowing juvenile Lebanese Cedars to grow at each node. These saplings can reach 800mm before being replanted elsewhere on campus, turning the tree into a vertical nursery.
Lebanese Cedars hold deep symbolic value in Abrahamic religions, representing the environment’s role in human history. In the Bible, their felling marks the ‘end of history’ (Ezekiel 31:1–18). This project echoes this symbolism, suggesting environmental decline but also renewal through new growth—a hopeful vision for the future.