Error-correcting codes are usually envisioned to counter errors by operating unitary corrections depending on the projective measurement results of some syndrome observables. We here propose a way to use them in a more integrated way, where the error correction is applied continuously and autonomously by an engineered environment. We focus on a proposal for the repetition code that counters bit-flip errors, and how to scale up the network encoding a logical quantum bit, towards stronger information protection. The challenge has been to devise a network architecture which allows to autonomously correct higher-order errors, while remaining realistic towards experimental realization by avoiding all-to-all or all-to-one coupling.