There are no trees along most of the sidewalks in the city of Turin, Italy. But if you walk by 25 Verde in Turin you will find a small forest built into a new five-story apartment building. The 150 trees are built in large pots on custom-shaped terraces.
“If the trees are integrated in the building, they are closer to the people who live there, and so there is more integration between man and nature,” says architect Luciano Pia. The trees not only filter air pollution but also reduce the excessive noise from busy streets and traffic. These 150 trees are said to be capable of absorbing around 200,000 liters of CO2 emissions per hour. And an additional bonus is created in the fact that the leaves of the trees create a microclimate for the building, making the heating and cooling of the building more efficient.
There have been many skyscrapers that have attempted trees at incredible heights, but these designs have not been successful due to wind conditions and air quality necessary to sustain the trees, according to Pia. “In tall buildings, the outdoor climate is considerably different from that on the lower floors to the ground level,” says Pia. “At the top there is always wind. I don’t think planting trees on skyscrapers is a way to go.”
Another important element in the 25 Verde project is ensuring that each of the 150 trees planted has adequate room to grow. The pots must be big enough to accommodate the right soil conditions, nutrition and root growth. The building is built around a courtyard which includes another 50 trees. The feeling of looking out and seeing trees rather than just seeing concrete was an important element for Pia according to his profile atwww.lucianopia.it.
“The building has been conceived as a living forest,” Pia says.
Monday, April 20, 2015 by Sandy J. Duncan (Natural News)
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