Basco Verticle Design is a design company based in Milan which focuses on ecologically friendly which use passive strategies to reduce energy loads and increase efficacy. They have recently undertaken the construction of the world’s first vertical forest. This is a set of two 27 story high-rise buildings that house more than 900 mature trees in addition to gardening space, and habitable space. Tress will range in size, but will reach up to nine meters in height, when grown on outer balconies. The tree heights, categorized as three, six and nine meters tall, will each pose different functionality within the total design, as will garden spaces, and the plants selected to inhabit those spaces. In summary, the amount of live growth integrated into the building design would grow over roughly 50,000 square meters of land, with 10,000 square meters of natural forest, but will instead be artificially integrated into a 250 foot and a 360 foot structure. The proposed study will consider how the use of passive design, including the planting of trees and gardens enhance the building’s overall energy performance and comfort level. The trees provide shading, increased oxygen, increased insulation to reduce heat loss, and natural cooling and more. In essence, the design focuses to, and enhances natural elements, including sunlight, shade, and oxygen/CO2 exchange, in order to create a project that maximizes energy efficacy within a modern design. The case study will be used to research, and analyze the technical specifications and impacts of the design critically, especially as it applies to energy efficiency.
The driving concept behind the vertical forest is a combination of rehabilitation and new residential creation that uses passive design to increase energy efficacy (Frearson, 2014).
The critical application of green design, such as the Verticle Forest, in reducing air pollution in major cities (Naboni, Wozniak-Szpakiewicz, & Doray, 2014).
The impact of passive design, using live elements like trees in energy-demand reduction through ventilation, passive heating and cooling, and overall sustainability (Stevens, 2013).
How using biodiversity as the primary guiding principle in architectural design changes design and the implementation of various passive design factors (Flannery & Smith, 2013).
How agricultural architecture alters urban quality and long term sustainability, both in terms of architectural longevity, and in terms of ecological preservation (Saiu, 2011).
References:
Flannery, J. A., & Smith, K. M. (2013). Eco-landscape design. New York: Springer.
Frearson, A., (2014). Stefano Boeri’s “vertical forest” nears completion in Milan. De Zeen Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/15/stefano-boeri-bosco-verticale-vertical-forest-milan-skyscrapers/
Naboni, E., Wozniak-Szpakiewicz, E., Doray, C., (2014). Future cities: design opportunities for the improvement of air quality. Architektura Zeszyt 2 A (2) 2014. DOI 10.4467/2353737XCT.14.025.2475
Saiu, V. (2011). Sustainable city project: Agriculture as key element for improving urban quality. Valahia University of Targoviste. Retrieved from http://agricultura.valahia.ro/Saiu.2011.pdf
Stevens, S. (2013). Sky Forests. Great Ecology. Retrieved from http://greatecology.com/category/blog/page/11/
