Bosco Verticale, the future of sustainable architecture.

A completely original idea, a pair of skyscrapers that filter the air of a metropolis. Those two buildings reduce the amount of pollution particles and are home to more than 800 trees. The “Bosco Verticale” in Milan shows the way for sustainable architecture

Driving on the highway that connects downtown Milan to its northwestern outskirts and the airport, you cannot miss it. A “Vertical Forest” – literally – rises to a height of 112 meters, two skyscrapers full of numerous trees and plants of all sizes, covering almost every inch of their facades.

The vision of Stefano Boeri 

With his “Bosco Verticale”, Italian architect Stefano Boeri suggests a new format of architectural biodiversity. He explores the relationship between humans and other living species in an urban environment. Boeri came up with the idea of rethinking the concept of the skyscraper during a visit to Dubai in 2007. Moving around the city, he noticed how skyscrapers dressed in metal and glass were reflecting the solar light, generating more heat in the air and even on the ground. Adding to that the results of a study showing that 94% of all tall buildings constructed since 2000 were dressed in glass, Boeri decided to focus on the sustainable architecture of tall buildings.

The “Bosco Verticale” in numbers

Construction of the skyscrapers lasted for 6 years. Both of them are home to 800 trees and more than 15.000 plants and shrubs. This is more or less the equivalent of about 30.000 square meters of green area. Indeed a vertical park, just a stone’s throw away from downtown Milan. Creating a special place for humans, trees and birds to live together is a quite particular project, that had a tremendous effect on the architectural language used. Their immense, overhanging balconies define the shape of both buildings. They were especially designed to accommodate large tubs for vegetation. Plus, they were put on the facade in a way that they allow trees and plants to grow without hindrance. From a distance the two buildings look like a pair of gigantic trees housing people, birds and other forms of life. Two gigantic trees that change colors as seasons go by.

Milan’s Bosco Verticale is an impressive architectural experiment, set to influence the development of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers in the future.