Utilising regenerative materials, such as trees, to construct skyscrapers can support biodiversity, raise awareness and improve air quality in dense cities. In this example, we are looking at such an example in the City of Milan commissioned by Stefano Boeri. Stefano Boeri also is planning such a construction in the City of Nanjing.

Some cities (especially dense cities) have air pollution problems arising from fossil oriented transport systems and energy systems, and may lack adequate green spaces.

Skyscrapers may be built using trees and other regenerative materials, as opposed to more traditional materials such as bricks and minerals (concrete, clay etc.)

Stefano Boeri, an Italian architect, has designed such a skyscraper complex in Milan. "The first example, built in Milan in the Porta Nuova area, consists of two towers that are respectively 80 and 112 metres high, housing a total of 800 trees (480 first and second stage trees, 300 smaller ones, 15,000 perennials and/or ground covering plants and 5,000 shrubs, providing an amount of vegetation equivalent to 30,000 square metres of woodland and undergrowth, concentrated on 3,000 square metres of urban surface."

Having such a green structure in the city enhances the connection between humans and nature, purifies air and contributes to biodiversity.

"A few years after its construction, the Vertical Forest has given birth to a habitat colonized by numerous animal species (including about 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies), establishing an outpost of spontaneous flora and fauna recolonization in the city."

Such innovative buildings and structures also welcome the use of digital and data solutions to optimise utilities usage in the building.

Photo by Zac Wolff on Unsplah.