China’s first ‘Vertical Forest City’ has been completed, providing a home to around 500 people – and over 5,000 shrubs and trees.
Though we may not think of tower blocks as green spaces, Italian architect Stefano Boeri has been disrupting this notion for decades.
His latest project, the Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex spans 4.54 hectares and includes two residential and three commercial towers.
Though the new complex is still recognisably the work of Boeri, best-known for the Bosco Verticale in Milan, the residential towers combine open and closed balconies to forge a stair-like effect.
This design is meant to “create a continuous, ever-changing movement”, as the building blends natural and built environments together.
All the foliage included in the project has been selected from native, non-invasive species. There are 404 trees, predominantly Ginkgo biloba – which is a type of Ginkgoales, an ancient order of trees dating back more than 290 million years.
There are also 4,620 shrubs used in the design, and 2,409 square metres of perennial grass, flowers and climbing plants.
Each year it’s estimated that the vertical forest will absorb around 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide, while emitting approximately 10 tonnes of oxygen.
“The design allows an excellent view of the tree-lined façades, enhancing the sensorial experience of the greenery and integrating the plant landscape with the architectural dimension,” says architect Stefano Boeri.
“The inhabitants of the residential towers have the opportunity to experience the urban space from a different perspective while fully enjoying the comfort of being surrounded by nature.”
Source : EuroNews.green
