Subscribe now

Columnist and Environment

Could we live in tree cities grown from giant sequoia in the future?

This week our new Future Chronicles column, which explores an imagined history of inventions of the future, visits carbon negative cities: forest homes grown from giant sequoia, genetically engineered for rapid growth. Rowan Hooper is our guide

By Rowan Hooper

22 May 2024

Sunny road in Oregon sequoia forest, USA; Shutterstock ID 2279027835; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Oregon sequoia forest, USA

E.BISSIRIEIX/Shutterstoc​k

In the second half of the 21st century, the first living city was established in urban forest around Portland, Oregon. Sequoia City comprised a grove of 40 trees, including a hospital tree, schools, farms and recreation facilities (zip lines, slides and altitude swings). As they grew, residential trees eventually each housed dozens of families, living in custom-grown rooms made of living plant tissue. Children raised in Sequoia City saw no distinction between humans and other lifeforms. To them, ecology – the study of life in relation to its environment – was something they understood…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Unlock this article

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 15 January 2025.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account