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 plants, an identifying element of the architectural design of the buildings and the system of hanging gardens, and their distribution according to the orientations of the facades and heights, is the result of more than two years of studies conducted together with a group of botanists. The plants that are inserted into the building are pre-cultivated in a nursery in order to configure them according to the needs of the project. The management of the pools is shared, as are the maintenance and replacement of all the plant material, and the number of plants established for each pool.
In the micro meteorological study, the calculation of irrigation needs was performed 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)

From an architectural point of view, the project stands out for the articulation of the volumes and the dynamic composition of the loggias, which protrude irregularly from the main elevations. This allows for an effective distribution of the plant masses and guarantees the solar radiation necessary for the plants, as well as offering a high degree of privacy and comfort to the inhabitants.

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.

About Procedure

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