In May 19-23, Gabrielė Kasputytė, researcher at the Forest 4.0, took part in the interdisciplinary innovation event “The Laboratory for [Living] Tree [as] Architecture (LABT) Creathon 2025” in Saint-Etienne, France, where she participated as both a mentor and keynote speaker.
LABT is a transdisciplinary platform that brings together students, researchers, artists, and architects from across Europe to rethink the relationship between architecture, sustainability, and more-than-human life. As part of the Lithuanian Pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale – Architreetecture, it connects 16+ European institutions and over 80 students, aiming to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration and creative exploration. LABT is produced by the Lithuanian Union of Architects and organized by Vytautas Magnus University in partnership with the Transform4Europe Alliance, Culture Platform “3022”, and the excellence centre Forest 4.0.
In the keynote “Smart Forestry as a Living Infrastructure: Challenges and Possibilities”, Gabrielė explored how smart technologies are transforming forest management and ecological engagement. She highlighted the concept of the forest as a living infrastructure – a dynamic, interconnected system that requires collaborative approaches from scientists, technologists, creatives, and the public to thrive sustainably.
Students also had the opportunity to experiment with augmented reality (AR) technology, which enabled them to experience the sensation of being inside a forest from any physical location. This hands-on experience powerfully demonstrated how immersive technologies can bridge digital and natural environments, creating new pathways for education, design, and ecological awareness.
Explore the LABT initiative here: https://labt-for-students–b52du6h.gamma.site/