Vertical Forest
In April 2017, the architect Stefano Boeri revealed radical proposals to build ‘forest cities’ as a means of combating urban pollution.
The 'Vertical Forest' concept is a proposal for a city in Shijiazhuang, China, which could serve as a prototype for other new green urban developments. The city is made up of high-rise towers covered in trees and other planted vegetation which, by filtering dust particles and absorbing carbon dioxide, would help de-pollute the surrounding environment.
The towers could also provide a habitat for birds and insects that would otherwise struggle to survive in an urban environment.
Boeri has already completed two Vertical Forest towers in Milan, which incorporate trees, shrubs and plants on balconies of the buildings. Together, the towers host the same number of trees that could be planted in a forest of one hectare.
Two more Vertical Forest towers are under construction in Nanjing, China, where 1,000 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs will line the structures’ facades.
All images and content courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.