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The sky’s (not) the limit for Milan’s Vertical Forest

7 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: Flickr - Fred Romero

‘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?

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.
Milan Vertical Forest, the first prototype of Vertical Forest in the world, turned 6 this year. 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: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
a project for metropolitan reforestation contributing to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. It is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city that operates in relation to policies for reforestation and naturalisation of large urban and metropolitan borders.
Vertical Forest is a model for a sustainable residential building, a project for metropolitan reforestation contributing to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. It is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city that operates in relation to policies for reforestation and naturalisation of large urban and metropolitan borders. Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
The first example of the Vertical Forest consisting of two residential towers of 110 and 76 m height, was realised in the centre of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighbourhood, hosting 800 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 meters), 4,500 shrubs and 15,000 plants from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants distributed according to the sun exposure of the facade.
Il Bosco Verticale, Milano The first example of the Vertical Forest consisting of two residential towers of 110 and 76 m height, was realised in the centre of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighbourhood, hosting 800 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 meters), 4,500 shrubs and 15,000 plants from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants distributed according to the sun exposure of the facade. Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
In terms of urban densification it is the equivalent of an area of a single family dwelling of nearly 75,000 sq.m. The vegetal system of the Vertical Forest contributes to the construction of a microclimate, produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and dust particles and produces oxygen.
On flat land, each Vertical Forest equals, in amount of trees, an area of 20,000 square meters of forest. In terms of urban densification it is the equivalent of an area of a single family dwelling of nearly 75,000 sq.m. The vegetal system of the Vertical Forest contributes to the construction of a microclimate, produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and dust particles and produces oxygen. Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
“Having these plants right on the terrace, real trees, has certainly had a positive impact on my life,” Pizzi added. “It brings (the) temperature down in the summer and it feels like these plants have generated a microclimate, it’s very pleasant. In the winter, we use less heating thanks to this greenhouse effect and in the summer, we use less air conditioning because the air is cooler.”
“I’ve been living at the Bosco Verticale since its opening,” Simona Pizzi told CNBC. “It doesn’t feel like we’re living right in the middle of busy Milan, where everything goes quite fast.” – “Having these plants right on the terrace, real trees, has certainly had a positive impact on my life,” Pizzi added. “It brings (the) temperature down in the summer and it feels like these plants have generated a microclimate, it’s very pleasant. In the winter, we use less heating thanks to this greenhouse effect and in the summer, we use less air conditioning because the air is cooler.” Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
Thanks to the “Flying Gardeners”, a specialised team of arborists-climbers who, once a year, descend from the roof of the two towers, using mountaineering techniques, to carry out pruning, routine maintenance, or any necessary substitution on the plants.
Irrigation is centralised, with the plants being constantly monitored by a digital and automated system. Thanks to the “Flying Gardeners”, a specialised team of arborists-climbers who, once a year, descend from the roof of the two towers, using mountaineering techniques, to carry out pruning, routine maintenance, or any necessary substitution on the plants. Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
A few years after its inauguration, Milan’s Bosco Verticale also became home to a number of animals and insects, including about 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies, all of which live in harmony with the human inhabitants.
Harmonious living. A few years after its inauguration, Milan’s Bosco Verticale also became home to a number of animals and insects, including about 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies, all of which live in harmony with the human inhabitants. Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
‘At the same time, the green curtain “regulates” humidity, produces oxygen and absorbs CO2and microparticles, a combination of characteristics that have brought the project a number of important awards.’
‘Unlike ‘mineral’ facades in glass or stone, the plant-based shield does not reflect or magnify the sun’s rays but filters them thereby creating a welcoming internal microclimate without harmful effects on the environment,’ the Boeri Studio website reads. ‘At the same time, the green curtain “regulates” humidity, produces oxygen and absorbs CO2and microparticles, a combination of characteristics that have brought the project a number of important awards.’ Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
Would you like to live in a vertical forest? Source: Instagram/boscoverticalemilano
One of these contains apartments equipped for medium and long-term rentals, while the other two will host residences of different types designed to meet the different needs of the new capital’s inhabitants.
The three new green Vertical Forests by Stefano Boeri Architetti for Cairo’s new administrative capital are experimental buildings in the form of three cubes 30 metres high and deep. One of these contains apartments equipped for medium and long-term rentals, while the other two will host residences of different types designed to meet the different needs of the new capital’s inhabitants. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
There are 350 trees and over 14,000 shrubs and evergreens belonging to 100 different species, which correspond to about a third of those currently found today within Cairo’s urban fabric.
Each apartment opens onto a balcony housing a selection of plant species typical of the North African climate zone characterised by different mass and height and with different types and periods of flowering. There are 350 trees and over 14,000 shrubs and evergreens belonging to 100 different species, which correspond to about a third of those currently found today within Cairo’s urban fabric. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
It is expected that the new Vertical Forests will be able to absorb about 7 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce 8 tons of oxygen, contributing substantially to counteracting the pollution and the effects of climate change.
In total the green area will exceed 3,600 square metres, an area equivalent to the building’s total ground area. It is expected that the new Vertical Forests will be able to absorb about 7 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce 8 tons of oxygen, contributing substantially to counteracting the pollution and the effects of climate change. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
Overall, the Trudo Vertical Forest residential tower will reach a height of 75 metres and be able to host as many as 125 trees of various species on the whole of its four facades, to which about 5,200 shrubs and plants of smaller dimensions will be added.
Trudo Vertical Forest, Eindhoven, Netherlands . Overall, the Trudo Vertical Forest residential tower will reach a height of 75 metres and be able to host as many as 125 trees of various species on the whole of its four facades, to which about 5,200 shrubs and plants of smaller dimensions will be added. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
Spread over an area of around 175 hectares (432 acres) along the Liujiang River, the masterplan commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning is currently being implemented. In addition to hosting about 30,000 inhabitants, the new city will provide a comfortable living environment for plants and trees on all buildings: in all, the Liuzhou Forest City will host about 40,000 trees and 1 million plants from more than 100 different species.
Liuzhou Forest City is the first Forest City in the world: an urban body in which offices, houses, hotels, hospitals and schools are almost entirely covered by plants and trees of a wide range of varieties and sizes. Spread over an area of around 175 hectares (432 acres) along the Liujiang River, the masterplan commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning is currently being implemented. In addition to hosting about 30,000 inhabitants, the new city will provide a comfortable living environment for plants and trees on all buildings: in all, the Liuzhou Forest City will host about 40,000 trees and 1 million plants from more than 100 different species. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
Located in the city of Huanggang in Hubei province, the Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex covers an area of 4.54 hectares, and has been designed to create a new green complex capable of integrating buildings for residences, hotels and large commercial spaces.
Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex Located in the city of Huanggang in Hubei province, the Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex covers an area of 4.54 hectares, and has been designed to create a new green complex capable of integrating buildings for residences, hotels and large commercial spaces. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
The project comprises five towers, two of which are residential and designed as vertical forests capable of providing a new life experience for the surrounding urban and natural area.
The Huanggang complex, intended to create a completely innovative green space for the city, meets the daily needs of a number of different individuals, including residents and temporary guests, inhabitants and tourists. The project comprises five towers, two of which are residential and designed as vertical forests capable of providing a new life experience for the surrounding urban and natural area. Source: stefanoboeriarchitetti.net
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
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CREATIVE WAYS TO GARDEN IN THE CITY

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.