VERTICAL FOREST

VERTICAL FOREST

Made by Valladerio Giorgia, Andrea Nicole Gallo, Fois Aurora, Barona Michelangelo and Pasini Christian

BE GREEN!

index

Materials

Bio-architecture

Stefano Boeri

What is Vertical Forest ?

Positive aspects of the Vertical Forest

Thanks

Curiosities

bio-architecture

Bio-architecture is the set of architectural disciplines that assume an ecologically correct attitude towards the ecosystem. Bio-architecture is an architectural practice that respects the principles of sustainability, and aims to establish a balanced relationship between the environment and the built environment, satisfying the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations through the indiscriminate consumption of resources. The primary goal of bio-architecture is to give buildings a new direction that is environmentally friendly. The best known italian architects in this field are Stefano Boeri, Ugo Sasso and Mario Cucinella.

principles of sustainability

• optimise the relationship between the building and its context. The architect's task, as Christian Norberg-Schulz states, is to create meaningful places to help people live, this through understanding and respecting the genius loci - the spirit of the site;
• to prioritise quality of life and man's psycho-physical well-being;
• safeguarding the ecosystem;
• make use of natural resources (water, vegetation, climate);
• not causing harmful emissions (fumes, gases, waste water, waste);
• designing buildings that are flexible and can be adapted over time with extensions or changes of use;
• provide for widespread use of renewable energy sources;
• use environmentally friendly materials and techniques, preferably belonging to the local material culture.

some new materials

In recent years, new materials are being sought for use in construction:

Mushroom mycelium: by extracting mushroom roots, it is possible to obtain a very powerful thermal insulator that can replace traditional plastic insulators such as foams.

Bamboo: used extensively in the East, due to its great structural strength and flexibility it is used to make scaffolding and design objects, and used for pillars, walls, columns, floors, beams and roofs.

Hemp: can be mixed with lime or clay to be used in the construction of roofs and partitions, and to make plasters and bricks.

Cork: a great material for thermal-acoustic insulation, it is waterproof and hydrophobic, and can be used to make insulation panels for floors, walls and roofs.

Sheep's wool: compressed wool panels provide perfect thermo-acoustic insulation, act as filters against dust and bacteria in the air and can be recycled.

WHAT IS VERTICAL FOREST?

Vertical Forest is a complex of two residential tower buildings designed by Boeri Studio and located in the business center of Milan, on the edge of the Isola district. A peculiarity of these buildings, both inaugurated in 2014, is the presence of more than two thousand arboreal species, including shrubs and tall trees, distributed on the façades. This is an ambitious metropolitan reforestation project which aims to increase the plant and animal biodiversity of the Lombardy capital, reducing its urban expansion and also contributing to the mitigation of the microclimate.

This is the reproduction of a real vertical forest in the form of two residential towers, unique in size and richness of the biodiversity presented. Tower D is 78 meters tall and Tower E reaches 111 meters tall.

Where is it?

Positive aspects of the Vertical Forest

Multiply the number of trees in the city.

Reduces energy consumption.

It can constitute a reference and a tool for the formulation of urban policies aimed at the inclusion of plant and animal species within the humanized urban environment.

Thanks to the variety of plant species hosted along the balconies and the presence of deciduous trees, the Vertical Forest changes its skin and the chromatic composition of its living facades, depending on the changing seasons and climatic conditions.

Creates close relationships between the anthropic and natural environments, giving life to new natural landscapes and new skylines.

Increases green and permeable surfaces in the city and reduces the urban heat island.

Reduces pollution of the urban environment.

SOME CURIOSITIES

THE STRUCTURE OF THE VERTICAL FORESTThe interiors of Boeri's vertical forest are luxurious and designer apartments, but the real peculiarity of the towers is on the outside: the balconies of the vertical forest are staggered from each other by approximately three metres, to be able to accommodate even the tallest plants and create a unusual and unexpected aesthetics.

WHO TAKES CARE OF THE PLANTS?

The plants in the Vertical Forest belong to many different species, each with specific needs, which is why there is a need for professional figures who take the best care of each individual species. The maintenance of the Vertical Forest is entrusted to the Flying Gardeners, professional gardeners who use ropes, helmets and safety harnesses to climb the two towers as if they were mountaineers to prune and take care of trees and shrubs. . As regards the daily care of the plants, irrigation is centralized and managed remotely at condominium level, through a digital system that constantly monitors the plants.

OTHER CURIOSITIES

BOTANICAL NURSERYStarting from summer 2010, the plants destined to be planted on the towers were pre-cultivated in a special botanical nursery to accustom them to living in conditions similar to the final ones. Then they were distributed on the towers following functional and aesthetic criteria, such as ornamental qualities, flowering seasons, potential allergenicity, the development of the architecture of the foliage and stem, and ease of maintenance. All this is the result of in-depth studies lasting three years which saw the collaboration of a group of botanists and ethologists. AN ENERGY DISSIPATION SYSTEM Due to the rail transit of the M2 and M5 metro lines, it was necessary to create an energy dissipation system that would effectively dampen vibrations and maintain the acoustic well-being of the residents of the two towers. To do this, elastic damping materials were used capable of making the structure "float" and blocking the propagation of any seismic waves.

MATERIALS

The entire structure is covered with grey porcelain panels.. The wood has infills, with thermal insulation, blocks of lightened brick plastered paste, air gaps and facades in porcelain stoneware slabs and a substructure composed of aluminum uprights. The walls that separate the stairwell with the housing units have a box masonry, with lightened brick paste, with plating in sheets of plasterboard, plaster mortar, mineral insulation panels and plastered brick wall cladding. The walls are connected to the substructure through brackets. The plates, on the other hand, are anchored by mechanical fixing and by grooves of the aluminum profile.

The facades of the Vertical Forest host 711 trees, 5,000 shrubs and 15,000 plants, which densify in height to cover an area equal to two hectares (20,000 square meters). The vegetation offers many benefits from an environmental and climate point of view.

Stefano Boeri

Stefano Boeri is an architect best known for his work in the field of sustainable architecture and green cities.

Education and Early Career: He graduated in Architecture from the Polytechnic of Milan and began his career as a journalist, writer and professor.

Other Works and Projects: He has worked on various projects in different parts of the world and has also participated in international conferences to share his vision of greener and more sustainable cities.

Academic Career: he has taught in various universities in Italy and abroad and has held important roles, such as the director of the Polytechnic of Milan.

Social Commitment: Boeri is also known for his social and political commitment. He has participated in debates on sustainability and improving the quality of life in cities.

Architecture and Design: he Worked on renovation, architecture and design projects. However, he is known for his attention to environmental sustainability.

Vertical Forest: One of the most famous projects is the "Vertical Forest" in Milan. They are two residential skyscrapers covered with over 20,000 trees and 11,000 plants. The goal is to create a vertical ecosystem that helps improve air quality and reduce pollution.

Writing and activism: He is also the author of numerous books on architecture and ecology. He is also an activist committed to promoting a sustainable approach.

THANKS