How to Build for Our Future

Jack Boswell explores northeast India to uncover the ancient, awe-inspiring tradition of Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges. Joining him is Dr Wilfrid Middleton, a researcher in Living Architecture, who’s been studying these extraordinary structures since 2017. Grown from the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica tree, these resilient bridges are woven over generations, offering the community not just a passage across rivers but a deeper connection to nature and protection of their land, withstanding monsoon rains and landslides. Wilfrid explains how these living bridges grow under the hands of villagers, shaped over decades by careful guidance and community collaboration. They thrive and strengthen over time, adapting to the changing landscape around them. The bridges serve both as a literal and symbolic bridge across generations, uniting people in a shared effort that will serve future villagers long after the builders have gone.Jack also speaks with Morningstar Khongthaw, founder of the Living Bridge Foundation, who passionately describes his mission to preserve and nurture these bridges for future generations. Morningstar reflects on the responsibility he feels to educate younger villagers in the art of building and maintaining the root bridges - a skill passed down through stories, hands-on practice, and the patient guidance of elders. For him, these living bridges embody a philosophy of life that values endurance, harmony with nature, and a vision that stretches far beyond one lifetime.This episode invites listeners to rethink modern building practices and embrace the wisdom embedded in Meghalaya’s living bridges. These remarkable structures offer a model of regenerative design, resilience, and community spirit, reminding us of the powerful legacy that thoughtful, patient care can create. In an age of rapid construction, the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya show us that sometimes, the best way forward is to take the long view.Host: Jack Boswell Producer: Emma Crampton Senior Producer: Harry Stott Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Production Coordinator: James Cox Audio Supervisor: Tom Biddle Sound Editor: Alan LeerA Message Heard production for BBC Radio 4