World’s First Vertical Forest for Low-Income Housing to be Built in The Netherlands

Architect Stefano Boeri has designed and built vertical forests around the globe. In Milan, for instance, he created the world’s first vertical forest. And in France, he built a vertical forest which freshens up the Parisian skyline. This time, Boeri is on a mission to create the world’s first vertical forest for low-income residents.

The Trudo Vertical Forest will be funded by a social housing project and will clean the air while offering affordable accommodation. Arch Daily reports that the tower will have a total of 19 stories with 125 units. Each abode will overflow with luscious flora, composed of a variety of plants and trees.

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

Said Boeri,

“The high-rise building of Eindhoven confirms that it is possible to combine the great challenges of climate change with those of housing shortages. Urban forestry is not only necessary to improve the environment of the world’s cities but also an opportunity to improve the living conditions of less fortunate city dwellers.”

The 246-foot tower will be home to 125 trees and 5,200 types of plants. Its rich, biodiverse environment will not only curb pollution, it will provide homes to a number of animals and insects in the city.

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

According to Arch Daily, the firm will use prefabrication with a rationalization of technical solutions for the exterior. This will optimize the building’s resources and produce the possibility of using the vertical forest as social housing.

“The Trudo Vertical Forest sets new living standards. Each apartment will have a surface area of under 50 square meters and the exclusive benefit of 1 tree, 20 shrubs and over 4 square meters of terrace. Thanks to the use of prefabrication, the rationalization of technical solutions for the facade, and the consequent optimization of resources, this will be the first Vertical Forest prototype destined for social housing,” said the firm’s Project Director, Francesca Cesa Bianchi.

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

Last month, Stefano Boeri Architetti called for urban forests in a global publication — specifically, new parks and gardens, vertical forests, and green facades. Said the firm: “Increasing and moving trees into the world’s cities can help clean the polluted air, drastically reduce CO2, reduce energy consumption and urban heat island effect, increase the biodiversity of living species and make cities more pleasant, healthier and attractive.” Since then, an eagerness to invest in sustainable architecture has arisen.

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

So far, Nanjing, Paris, Milan, Shanghai, Lausanne, Utrecht, and Tirana have all proposed vertical forestry designs by Stefano Boeri Architetti. Action is being taken to reduce pollution in urban environments, improve the health of people, animals, and the planet, and to inspire an appreciation for sustainable initiatives. That’s newsworthy, right? 

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

Credit: Stefano Boeri Architects

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h/t Arch Daily