Vertical Forest

Residential complex designed by Studio Boeri Architetti and inaugurated in 2014

The Bosco Verticale is a residential complex located in the Porta Nuova district of Milan, designed by Studio Boeri Architects (with architects Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca and Giovanni La Varra).
Inaugurated in 2014, it is composed of two towers of 111 and 76 meters, characterized by the presence of an integrated plant system that hosts over 800 tall trees, approximately 15.000 perennial plants and 5.000 shrubs distributed on the facades and balconies.

The intervention was born with the aim of proposing an alternative model of urban densification, in which greenery becomes a structural and functional part of the building. Vegetation plays an active role in microclimatic regulation, in the reduction of air and noise pollution, and in the mitigation of the “heat island” effect. The trees and plants, selected in collaboration with a team of botanists, also contribute to urban biodiversity, hosting species of insects and birds.

Trees

In the Bosco Verticale, the choice of species—a defining element of the architectural design of the buildings and the system of hanging gardens—and their distribution according to the orientation of the facades and heights, is the result of more than two years of research conducted with a team of botanists. The plants planted on the building are pre-cultivated in a nursery so they can be configured according to the project's needs. Management of the pools is shared, as is the maintenance and replacement of all plant material, and the number of plants per pool is established.
In the micrometeorological study, irrigation needs were calculated by examining the climatic characteristics, and diversified based on the exposure of the facades and the distribution of vegetation on the floors. (Source: barrecaelavarra.it)

Architecturally, the project stands out for its articulation of volumes and the dynamic composition of the loggias, which jut out irregularly from the main elevations. This allows for an effective distribution of plant masses and ensures the necessary solar radiation for the plants, while also offering a high degree of privacy and comfort for the residents.

The photographic gallery documents the whole and the details of the work, highlighting the relationship between architecture and vegetation and the insertion of the intervention into the surrounding urban context.

Bosco Verticale is considered one of the most significant residential projects of the last decade and has received numerous international awards, including the International Highrise Award in 2014 and the CTBUH Award for Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2015.

Information about the intervention

client: Hines Italia SGR SpA
program: residential
assignment: architectural project (preliminary, definitive, executive supervision) and artistic direction – Boeri Studio (S. Boeri, G. Barreca, G. La Varra)
amount of work: €62.700.000
area of intervention: 19.500 – 32.000 mXNUMX
constructed surfaces: 40.000 m²
executive project: Tekne SpA
executive green project: Emanuela Borio, Laura Gatti
structure project: Arup Italia srl
plant project: Hilson Moran Italia SpA
project leader: G. Bertoldi
Supervision of works: Francesco de Felice, Davor Popovic
design team: Alessandro Agosti, Andrea Casetto, Matteo Colognese, Angela Parrozzani, Stefano Onnis
Schematic design and PII leader: Frederic de Smet
Schematic design and PII team: Daniele Barillari, Julien Boitard, Matilde Cassani, Andrea Casetto, Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Inge Lengwenus, Eleanna Kotsikou, Matteo Marzi, Emanuela Messina, Andrea Sellanes