Humanity has come a long way from the primitive savage to the conqueror of the globe and the cosmic depths. People managed to look inside the atom, to tame the forces of nature for their needs. Millions of useful inventions have been born, from the wheel to the production of high-tech machines. All this is the progress of mankind, the triumph of brilliant ideas over the brute force of primitive nature.
However, in the process of evolution, people have lost a very important thing - love and respect for their home planet. While the "kids" grew up and learned to behave correctly, Mother Earth received a lot of harm. Numerous factories, plants, various modes of transport daily emit a disappointing set of harmful substances, salts of heavy metals and other chemicals into the atmosphere. Ecology is especially affected near powerful enterprises and large cities.
Note that Italy is one of the cleanest corners of Europe. Tourists will find here healing sea air, a well-groomed coast, many sunny days and rich Mediterranean nature. The generosity of Italian land for several centuries has been a hallmark for the resorts of this country. The current generation of Italians decided to contribute to the improvement of the ecological background of their homeland and to ennoble the city.
The idea of creating a Bosco vertical
Of particular interest is the Bosco Verticale project, which is currently being built in the heart of Milan, in the Isola di Milano area. Translated from Italian, the name of the building means "Vertical Forest". What kind of forest can be broken in the middle of the city? In fact, Boeri Studio experts developed the concept of symbiosis of a residential multi-storey building and green spaces. The final embodiment of an environmentally friendly skyscraper was proposed in 2008, the construction project included two buildings. According to preliminary calculations, one of them should reach the 80-meter mark, and the second - 112 meters.
The very idea of improving big cities is not new, and earlier it was realized in a classical way - the creation of parks, squares and alleys. The lack of free land in the center of a large city, as well as its high cost, prompted architects to search for alternative options. Michelle Brunellowho has been curating the landscape design of Milan for several years, was the first to voice the idea of a vertical forest. However, it was far from easy to combine seemingly little compatible things - reinforced concrete structures and the ecosystem of the whole park. The architects Stefano Boeri and Gianandrea Barecca came to the aid of Brunello.
What is a vertical forest?
The revolutionary find of the creators of Bosco Vertical is the idea of an organic combination of high-rise buildings and green landscapes. In other words, the Vertical Forest is not just a concrete building decorated with tubs with plants. A real forest, consisting of various species of trees.
To translate plans into reality, specialists needed trees that have different heights and life cycles. In total, more than 800 trees were planted, about 500 tall and more than 250 - undersized. To set the necessary accents, 5 thousand various shrubs, more than 10 thousand perennial green spaces, a huge number of flowers and herbs were used.
The vertical forest is a truly amazing building that will change its appearance, depending on the time of year. All plants, as well as their location within the building, were carefully selected. Spring flowering, summer greens and autumn wilting serve as a kind of decoration, changing in dynamics. In fact, the buildings will be a closed ecosystem, which will significantly enrich the ecology of the whole city. A large array of living plants will become a new home for a large number of insects, birds and small animals.
All floors of the plant-housing ecosystem are made of concrete structures. The outer surfaces are decorated with extensive pots, stands, in each of which one or another plant will find its home. Entrances of buildings, freight and passenger elevators, stairs and all communications necessary for the functioning of a skyscraper are displayed on one of the 4 faces of the house. Thus, the remaining surfaces will be maximally involved in landscaping.
Both Bosco Verticale buildings are conditionally divided into several tiers. This gradation was set by the conditions for the comfortable growth of plantings. Indeed, in order for the living decor of skyscrapers to remain in good condition, it is necessary to observe parameters such as air humidity, plant illumination, a certain wind force and the like. The most advanced developments in the field of construction and landscape design were thrown at solving all the issues that arise during the landscaping of buildings.
Benefits of Bosco Verticale
However, the green massif has not only aesthetic and environmental benefits. Scientists from the studio of Stefano Boyer also managed to realize the following useful functions: reproduction of oxygen, cleaning city air from dirt and dust, natural control of lighting and humidity inside the premises, reducing wind power and minimizing radiation background.
The general concept of an environmentally friendly oasis in the middle of a polluted city has been expertly backed by useful innovations such as solar panels and wind power generators. It is logical that the authors of "green skyscrapers" decided to use alternative sources of energy in their work that do not pollute the atmosphere. The most stringent requirements regarding toxicity, strength and the degree of interaction with wildlife were also imposed on building materials.
The authors of the project claim that the 27-story eco-skyscraper and its partner are able to replace the park area with an area of 50 thousand m2. Another interesting fact: the cost of all the devices necessary for a comfortable plant life, as well as the purchase of plantings, increased the total construction costs by only 5%. If you take into account that the positive effect of the Vertical Forest will spread outside the buildings, then all the additional costs pay off with interest.
Attractions nearby
The completion of landscaping of the Vertical Forest is scheduled for the last quarter of 2013. At the moment, the concrete skeleton of buildings has begun to carefully “sheathe” green tiers. So far, only the lower floors are ready, but now you can admire the unusual gardens in the center of Milan. After enjoying Italian know-how, guests of the city can take a half-hour walk to Duomo Square. There is the main attraction of Milan - the most beautiful cathedral.
Bosco Vertical is not the first high-rise building in Milan.
The city is famous for its history, architecture, innovative design of buildings. One of the most famous skyscrapers of this city is the Pirelli skyscraper, which is the headquarters of the world-famous manufacturer of auto and motorcycle tires, as well as other products from soft rubber. If Grattacielo Pirelli impresses with its size and interior, then Bosco Verticale, upon completion of work on it, will be breathtaking completely.
Mentioning two unique high-rise buildings in Milan, you can draw parallels with the amazing skyscrapers of the world. Having exchanged European beauties for Asian exoticism, tourists can enjoy lush tropical greenery and incredible silhouettes of multi-storey buildings. The most striking example is Singapore, a city-state located in the southeast of the Asian continent.
There are many high-rises in this city, and each of them amazes with its size, design and harmonious fusion with the green landscape. At night, a walk along the city promenade will make a special impression. It is from there that a breathtaking view of the building of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel opens. To preserve memories of an unforgettable vacation in Singapore, it is enough to make a leisurely voyage around the city, enlisting the support of a good photographer.
