Bosco Verticale, designed by Boeri Studio
Bosco Verticale, or "Vertical Forest," is a complex of two residential towers located in Milan's Porta Nuova neighborhood, adjacent to Via Gaetano de Castillia and Via Federico Confalonieri and near the Milano Porta Garibaldi train station. The buildings were completed and delivered in October 2014. The project, created by Italian studio Stefano Boeri Architetti (formerly Boeri Studio), is an example of innovative sustainable architecture that combines residential functions with ecological solutions, becoming a symbol of a modern approach to urban planning and environmental protection.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan - a bird's eye view of the skyscrapers
photo by Dimitar Harizanov © Boeri Studio
green towers in the heart of the city:
integrating nature with architecture
Bosco Verticale is an example of a new approach to architectural design that integrates the needs of people with a concern for the coexistence of different species in urban space. The two towers, 80 and 112 meters high, house a total of 800 trees, 15,000 perennials and groundcover plants, and 5,000 shrubs. This amount of greenery is equivalent to an area of 20,000 square meters of forest and undergrowth, gathered on a plot of 3,000 square meters in the center of the city.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan
photo by Dimitar Harizanov © Boeri Studio
transforming the urban fabric
into natural oases
The project is a response to the challenge of urban sprawl and limited access to green space. Each tower corresponds to an area of about 50,000 square meters of single-family housing. Unlike traditional facades made of materials such as glass or stone, walls covered with greenery act as a natural filter for the sun's rays. As a result, the interiors of the buildings gain a stable microclimate, and their surroundings remain free from the negative impact of intense heat. Greenery covering facades additionally regulates air humidity, produces oxygen, reduces carbon dioxide levels and absorbs fine particles of pollution, supporting urban ecology.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan.
photo by Dimitar Harizanov © Boeri Studio
architecture in the service of nature
The concept behind Bosco Verticale is to create a space that combines residential functions with a space conducive to plants and birds. This idea shapes both the urban and technological solutions of the project, and defines its architectural form and expression. Characteristic of the towers are the extensive, irregularly spaced balconies, extending about three meters beyond the building's outline. They were designed with large pots that allow planting and free growth of vegetation, including trees, capable of growing for up to three stories.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan - drawing of the north elevation
© Boeri Studio
Flora inspirations in the finishing of
high-rise facades
The building's facade was covered with porcelain stoneware in a color that refers to the bark of trees. The aim of the design is to create the impression of two monumental trees that shape the living space. White porcelain stoneware elements, such as sections of balconies and enclosed balustrades, introduce visual division, giving rhythmicity to the facade.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan - planting scheme
© Boeri Studio
diversity of vegetation
As a key architectural element of the Bosco Verticale
The diversity of colors and forms of vegetation creates a distinct landmark that remains visible and recognizable throughout the year, even from great distances. In a short time, this feature has made Bosco Verticale a new symbol of Milan. The principle of diversity is also evident in the solutions used on the different levels of the buildings and on their side elevations, where the selection and placement of plants takes into account both aesthetic and functional aspects.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan
photo by Dimitar Harizanov © Boeri Studio
Preparing the vegetation for integration into the architecture
Work on the botanical part of the project began three years before the complex was built, as a result of collaboration with a team of botanists and ethologists. In the summer of 2010, plants to be placed on the towers were grown at the Peverelli garden center near Como. There, the plants were prepared to live in conditions resembling those that would prevail on the towers.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan - first floor plan
© Boeri Studio
The presence of vegetation makes the building not just a static object, but a dynamic space where natural and human-controlled processes coexist to support the growth and development of a "living organism." A team of "flying gardeners" - climbing arborists once a year, using mountaineering techniques, perform pruning of plants, assessing their condition and removing or replacing those that require it.
Bosco Verticale (Italian for 'Vertical Forest' or 'Vertical Forest') in Milan
photo by Laura Cionci © Boeri Studio
The project has won numerous prestigious awards, including the International Skyscraper Prize, awarded by the German Museum of Architecture in Frankfurt in 2014, and the CTBUH award for best tall building in the world, presented by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in Chicago in 2015. Bosco Verticale became the first example of architecture that integrates natural vegetation into a building structure. The studio continues to develop urban and vertical reforestation projects, adapting them to local climatic conditions and specific functional needs.
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Illustrations provided courtesy of Boeri Studio.