Bosco Verticale, which means “vertical forest” in Italian, is a pair of residential towers located in Milan, Italy. Designed by the architect Stefano Boeri, the towers were completed in 2014 and have since become a symbol of urban regeneration and sustainable architecture.
The towers stand at 110 and 76 meters tall and house a total of 900 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 plants. The vegetation is distributed on the balconies of each apartment, giving the towers the appearance of a hanging garden. The purpose of the design was to promote biodiversity and improve air quality in the city.
The Bosco Verticale towers have several advantages over traditional buildings. The vegetation on the towers acts as a natural filter for air pollutants and absorbs carbon dioxide, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the towers. The plants also provide shade, keeping the apartments cool during the summer months, and reducing the need for air conditioning.
In addition, the towers provide a home for several bird species that were previously absent from the city. The vegetation has created a microclimate that attracts various birds, such as finches, blackbirds, and blue tits. The towers have also become a popular spot for birdwatchers, who can observe the birds from the balcony of their apartment.
The apartments in the Bosco Verticale are expensive and luxurious, with prices starting at €3,000 per square meter. Despite the high cost, the demand for apartments in the towers has been strong. The unique design and the benefits of living in a vertical forest have made the Bosco Verticale a desirable place to live.
The Bosco Verticale has received several awards for its innovative design and environmental impact. In 2015, the towers were awarded the International Highrise Award, which recognizes the most innovative high-rise buildings in the world. The Bosco Verticale was also included in Time magazine’s list of “Inventions of the Year” in 2014.
The Bosco Verticale has inspired several similar projects around the world. In 2018, a similar project was completed in Nanjing, China, called the Nanjing Green Towers. The towers are designed to house over 3,000 plants and 110 trees and will provide 25 tons of oxygen each year.
How Bosco Verticale is Reviving Urban Areas with Its Unique Design
- Improving Air Quality: The trees and plants on the towers absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, while also producing oxygen, which helps to reduce air pollution in the city. In fact, the trees on Bosco Verticale are estimated to absorb around 30 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
- Reducing Noise Pollution: The trees and plants also act as a buffer against noise pollution, which can be a significant problem in urban areas. The vegetation on the towers helps to absorb sound, making the surrounding area quieter and more peaceful.
- Creating Habitat for Wildlife: Bosco Verticale is not just a home for people, but also for wildlife. The trees and plants on the towers provide a habitat for birds, insects, and other animals, which helps to support biodiversity in the city.
- Addressing the Urban Heat Island Effect: The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon in which cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activities. Bosco Verticale helps to combat this effect by providing shade and cooling the surrounding area. The vegetation on the towers also helps to release moisture into the air, which can further cool the area.
- Setting an Example for Sustainable Urban Design: Bosco Verticale is a pilot project that is part of a new generation of sustainable buildings, and it serves as an example of how cities can incorporate green spaces into their urban design. By setting this example, Bosco Verticale is inspiring other architects and developers to prioritize sustainability in their projects.
Inside the Bosco Verticale: Understanding the Key Components of a Green Skyscraper
The project is an example of a green skyscraper that incorporates a number of sustainable design features. The two towers, Torre E and Torre D, are made up of over 800 trees and 14,000 plants, which provide a number of environmental benefits such as filtering pollutants, producing oxygen, and providing microclimates.
The trees and plants are arranged in a way that maximizes sunlight and ventilation, and they are irrigated using a greywater system that recycles water from the buildings. Additionally, the towers are equipped with solar panels to generate renewable energy, and feature a rainwater collection system that helps to reduce water usage. The sustainable design features of the Bosco Verticale have been recognized with several awards, including the 2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.