Jolly Green Giants: Metropolitan Reforestation Project In Milan Begins Construction.

After its initial design in 2007 by Italian Steffano Boeri's architecture firm Boeri Studio, Treehugger, Inhabit and Gizmag recently reported that construction of the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan has finally begun. That intrigued me to do a little more research and bring you images of the original renderings , models and diagrams as well as some new construction photos.


above left: computer rendering of Bosco Verticale; above right: construction begins in Milan

With 24 floors (Torre E) and 17 floors (Torre D) respectively, the two residential towers will contain a total of 900 shrubs between 3 and 6 meters tall to help to absorb dust, smog and produce oxygen. The apartment buildings, examples of utilizing ecology in architecture, are expected to be completed next year and will include a restaurant, fitness center, parking garage, and rooftop garden.




CGI renderings and the architectural models of the towers:



Architectural models by One Off Protoyping

The construction has begun at Via De Castilla & Via Confalonieri, Puorta Nova I-20100 in Milan, Italy:




description of the project from the architect's site:
Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) is a project for metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. Bosco Verticale is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city. It is a model that operates correlated to the policies for reforestation and naturalization of the large urban and metropolitan borders (Metrosbosco). Metrobosco and Bosco Verticale are devices for the environmental survival of contemporary European cities. Together they create two modes of building links between nature and city within the territory and within the cities of contemporary Europe.

The first example of a Bosco Verticale composed of two residential towers of 110 and 76 meters height, will be realized in the centre of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighbourhood, and will host 900 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 m tall) apart from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants.




On flat land, each Bosco Verticale equals, in amount of trees, an area equal to 10.000 sqm of forest. In terms of urban densification the equivalent of an area of single family dwellings of nearly 50.000 sqm.



The Bosco Verticale is a system that optimizes, recuperates and produces energy. The Bosco Verticale aids in the creation of a microclimate and in filtering the dust particles contained in the urban environment. The diversity of the plants and their characteristics produce humidity, absorb CO2 and dust particles, producing oxygen and protect from radiation and acoustic pollution, improving the quality of living spaces and saving energy.





Plant irrigation will be produced to great extent through the filtering and reuse of the grey waters produced by the building. Additionally Aeolian and photovoltaic energy systems will contribute, together with the aforementioned microclimate to increase the degree of energetic self sufficiency of the two towers. The management and maintenance of the Bosco Verticale’s vegetation will be centralised and entrusted to an agency with an office counter open to the public.

Project information:
location: Milano, Italy
year: 2007 (on going)
client: Hines Italia
built area: 40.000 sqm
budget: 65.000.000,00€

Architectural Design:
BOERISTUDIO (Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca, Giovanni La Varra)

Team:
Phase 1 – Urban plan and preliminary design
Frederic de Smet (coordinator), Daniele Barillari, Julien Boitard, Matilde Cassani, Andrea Casetto, Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Inge Lengwenus, Corrado Longa, Eleanna Kotsikou, Matteo Marzi, Emanuela Messina, Andrea Sellanes.

Phase 2 – Final design and working plan
Gianni Bertoldi (coordinator), Alessandro Agosti, Andrea Casetto, Matteo Colognese, Angela Parrozzani, Stefano Onnis.

Consultant for the vegetation project: Emanuela Borio, Laura Gatti

images in this post courtesy of ©Boeri Studio, some diagrams by Salottobuono and architectural models by OneOff Protoyping

Handcrafted Wooden Trays Inspired By Architectural Facades

above: via Omero 38

Italian architect and designer Michele De Lucchi has created a stunning series of hand crafted wooden wall mountable trays based on architectural facades, called Vassoi da Muro.



Each of the seven "Vassoi da Muro" trays, is titled so as to suggest an actual address on a street named after an ancient Greek or Latin poet that De Lucchi admires.

via Orazio 59:


In De Lucchi's own words:
Trays can be beautiful objects but are often ignored, mainly because people don’t know where to put them as they tend to occupy too much space. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a practical corner to stow them in.

The wall trays are a new category of exquisitely handcrafted wooden trays that can be hung on the wall as architectural models. But they can also be used in every respect as service trays.

via Saffo 25:

via Lucrezio 29:

via Cattulo 30:

via Alceo 32:

via Virgilio 32:


These trays are designed to be hung on the wall and when not in use they become artworks of beauty. So their normally humble purpose is transformed into a dignified opportunity to represent the fronts of buildings, with windows, doors and balconies - as in a fully fledged architectural office with models scattered about on tables and hanging on walls.

The wall trays are made with superb natural walnut heartwood and are actually available for purchase for $1,650.00 each and can be bought online at Moss.



Below are the beautiful little water color sketches of the facades by DeLucchi (shown above):



relative size:



The trays have been produced by Michele's own company Produzione Privata.

Via Varese 15
20121 Milano, Italy
tel. +39 02 63786817
fax +39 02 63786814
www.produzioneprivata.it