Internet Explorer is not supported by this site and Microsfot has stopped releasing updates, therefore you may encounter issues whilst visiting this site and we strongly recommend that you upgrade your browser for modern web functionality, a better user experience and improved security.
‘Il Bosco Verticale’—Europe’s first example of a Vertical Forest—turned 6 this year. We revisit the ingenious model for urban regenerative development and check out some of the architect’s other projects.
THEY ARE BUILDING VERTICAL FORESTS IN CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD
The two towers (80 and 112 meters high) of Il Bosco Verticale opened in 2014. The plant life equals 3 hectares of forests with 800 trees, 15,000 perennials and 5,000 shrubs.
This moderates the temperature in summer and winter, converts up to 30 tonnes of CO2 each year, filters out harmful dust particles, protects the residents from noise pollution and creates a microhabitat for insects and birds who live in harmony with the human inhabitants.
These vertical forests thrive thanks to the“Flying Gardeners”, a specialised team of arborists-climbers who, 3 times per year, descend from the roof to carry out pruning and maintenance.
By 2050 two-thirds of the world population will be living in cities. We need innovative ideas like this to create green, livable cities that contribute to a healthy eco-system.
Architect Stefano Boeri is the genius behind this and many other vertical forest projects around the world. See below for photos, facts, figures and future projects.
Would you like to live in a vertical forest?
Milan Vertical Forest, the first prototype of Vertical Forest in the world, turns 5. Opened on 2014, October 14th, the experimental building designed by Stefano Boeri is today considered a successful experiment. It represents a model for urban regenerative development which introduces living nature not only as decorative element but as a basic component of architecture and which can improve the role of cities on a global action on Urban Forestry. Source: BrightVibes / Stefano Boeri
City residents in many areas are challenging the notion that they can’t grow gardens in their urban settings, by finding creative ways to garden in limited space. Some folks are even pulling up their small city lawns to plant vegetable gardens, urban orchards, and edible landscapes. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to garden in the city. Following are some obvious and not so obvious ways to grow some greenery amidst the urban concrete and steel.