Living bridges

On a recent vacation to the North-East of India, I was lucky to witness an example in human ingenuity and ecologically responsible living: the village of Mawlynnong in Meghalaya, promoted as ‘the cleanest village in Asia’ and hailed by UNICEF as a model for other villages in the region. Cleanliness however, isn’t the only reason to follow the example set by this village. Living miles from ‘civilization’ in the hills overlooking the floodplains of Bangladesh, the people here have created economic value where there was none, by making the most of the limited resources at their disposal.

Using their location and the natural beauty of their surroundings to their advantage, the locals have created attractions that boost the tourism quotient of their village, like a 100 foot high bamboo structure that takes you above the tree canopy for a breathtaking view of Bangladesh’s floodplains; and two guesthouses on stilts, which give you the impression of living in the trees. One of the guesthouses is connected by a narrow bridge to a platform right in the tree tops! Although they aren’t likely to win any architectural awards, the creation of these structures has led to a whole new source of income for their village, and it was done simply by using their condition to their advantage. All of their construction is done using bamboo and other locally available natural materials.

Another fascinating attraction nearby is the living root bridge that spans a mountain stream. Constructed over many years by the War Khasi tribe, these bridges are made of the secondary roots of the Indian rubber tree (Ficus Elastica), by guiding them into shape and patiently waiting years for the bridge to take shape as the roots grow and harden. As a living organism, the bridge is actually growing stronger with the passage of time, and can currently hold up to 50 people at a time. There are other such living root bridges in Meghalaya, some said to be over 500 years old. These people weren’t just trying to fix a problem in their present – they were planning for the future, leaving behind a legacy that is both ecologically sound and beautiful.

Some of the greatest architects respect the natural landscape and create buildings that reflect and imbibe the qualities and materials of that area. There has recently been a resurgence of interest in the area of ‘green architecture’ and ‘living buildings’ that support their own mini-ecosystem. Knowing that the Khasi villagers have been doing exactly the same thing over hundreds of years as a way of life was a gentle reminder to sometimes slow down and look to the past for wisdom and direction.