There are green building projects, and then there's China's Nanjing Vertical Forest. The project aims to improve air quality by covering the facades of a pair of towers with thousands of plants, shrubs and trees. All that greenery is expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide a year and generate about 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of oxygen per day.
Project challenges include picking the right plants for the climate. But the team can learn from other vertical forests designed by architect Stefano Boeri. A project team in Milan, Italy, for instance, had to select species of trees able to withstand the wind when planted in high-level balconies. They also had to choose soil that wouldn't weigh down a balcony while still providing stability for a tree.
The Nanjing project will deliver more than just environmental benefits. Standing 200 meters (656 feet) high, the taller tower will contain office space, a museum, an architecture school and a private club on the rooftop. The other tower, 108 meters (354 feet) high, will be a hotel.
PROJECT:
Nanjing Vertical Forest
LOCATION:
Nanjing, China
ESTIMATED COMPLETION YEAR:
2018
NUMBER OF TREES, PLANTS AND SHRUBS:
3,600