Going Vertically Green: Forest Skyscrapers in MilanSome cities in the world are about to get a lot g

Going Vertically Green: Forest Skyscrapers in MilanSome cities in the world are about to get a lot greener. Both, in the sense that they will reduce carbon emissions and that their skylines will physically look greener. This is possible with the establishment and implementation of these newly designed ‘vertical forests’. There are many different design ideas for foresting urban areas but the city of Milan has decided on the vertical skyscraper design.The first pair of residential buildings being built in Milan are called The Bosco Verticale, which translates roughly to ‘vertical forest’. The design, which incorporates trees, shrubbery, and other small plants, will hopefully absorb carbon dioxide, filter dust particles, reduce urban heat, and conserve energy. Overall, it is an initial step in making Milan one of the leading green-friendly cities in the world.This is not the first time cities have tried to incorporate plants and foliage into the design and structure of buildings. Green rooftops are also becoming increasingly popular because of their easy constructional design. Chicago’s city hall for example has made the transition to a green rooftop with grass and shrubbery covering most of it. As beneficial as these rooftops have been, the vertical forests are expected to be much more effective in the long run since they enable cities to become more dense and sustainable at the same time.With the recent and unfortunate milestone of carbon dioxide reaching 400 parts per million (ppm), one can’t help but to feel a sense of urgency with cutting down greenhouse gas admissions. With that said, innovative ideas like the vertical forests and green rooftops are definitely steps in the right direction.–Pete DFor related posts, visit:1. http://on.fb.me/135SH8d2. http://on.fb.me/17SxjYTImage Credit:Boeri StudioReferences:1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/worlds-first-vertical-for_n_1097867.html2. http://travel.yahoo.com/blogs/compass/vertical-forest-skyscrapers-coming-milan-212117629.html3. http://www.asla.org/meetings/awards/awds02/chicagocityhall.html -- source link

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