2014
BOSCO VERTICALE
Tower (De Castillia Tower) and D Tower (Confalonieri Tower)
- General Construction Coordination
- Architectural detailed design
- Construction Supervision assistance
Client
Hines Italia SGR
Intervention typology
Construction
Project Area
RESIDENTIAL, SKYSCRAPER
Value
60 Million €
Location
MILANO
Years
2007-2014
Concept Design
Boeri Studio (with Barreca & La Varra)
Numbers
Height
119 m (Torre E)
87 m (Torre D)
Areas
6 300 m² of offices
22k m² of housing
22 600 m² of underground parking & tech rooms
8 900 m² of terraces
500 m² of solar panels
Biodiversity
100 different species of flora
800 trees, 11k evergreen plants, 5k shrubs
Certifications
LEED Gold
Credits
Photo by Nancy Da Campo, Giovanni Nardi, Dimitri Harizanov
Courtesy by Studio Boeri, Barreca La Varra Architects
In collaboration with
Arup (Enginering & Structures Project)
Hilson Moran Italia (Plant Project)
ZH Construction Company (Contractor)
Colombo Costruzioni (Contractor)
The Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) project, designed by Boeri Studio and consisting of two skyscrapers, is part of the Porta Nuova redevelopment plan, embracing the Isola district in Milan. The entire complex is intended for residential use and has been proposed since the first concept as a real "manifesto" for a sustainable architecture that fulfils the dual aim of mitigating the anthropic impact on the environment and improving the quality of life in the city. With its avant-garde vision, the Bosco Verticale perfectly embodies the values of sustainability and green architecture promoted by TEKNE, which was proudly part of the project. the complex is made up of two parallelepiped volumes to optimize the load-bearing structure and thermal performance.
On the fronts terraces are applied, being carefully designed to accommodate concrete flowerbeds instead of the more traditional parapet. The hanging gardens gave rise to a lively biodiversity, initially supported by the release of over 1200 ladybugs that would inhabit the more than 900 trees between 3 and 6 meters high (550 trees in the first tower and 350 in the second), the 5 thousand shrubs and 11 thousand flowering plants including perennials and ground covers. It is about 8,900 m² of terraces: a corresponding 20,000 square meters of forest and undergrowth. More than one hundred different tree species have been chosen to withstand the urban climate of Milan, giving the architecture an iridescent and variable appearance over time thanks to the different seasonal behaviour of the plants, including summer blooms, deciduous plants, and evergreen foliage.
The entire project acts as a "system" designed and implemented to simultaneously fulfil distinct roles within the urban environment. An "active" function within the city is fulfilled by increasing the green area of the urban fabric, providing the latter with a greater arboreal contribution in a reduced portion of land, absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen, ideally integrating public green spaces. On the other hand, the Vertical Forest aims passively to ensure greater living comfort for the residences, all of which have at least one tree-lined balcony. The presence of shrubs and trees of diverse sizes generates an internal microclimate, improving living conditions. This extraordinary density and variety of plants has the effect of producing oxygen and humidity for micro-ventilation, absorbing CO2 and fine dust, protecting against solar radiation and noise pollution, and overall improving living comfort.
It's a natural "filter". From an engineering and safety point of view, designed in collaboration with ARUP, the Vertical Forest needed the study and design of multiple structural and plant systems that would guarantee the best static and energy performance. Technological and innovative structural solutions have made it possible to mitigate the vibrations and potential problems caused by the M2 Metro tunnels, underneath the towers. Accurate and high-performance building systems, with energy coming from both solar panels and other geothermal heating solutions, guarantee high efficiency and maximum compliance with LEED certification requirements.
Rainwater recycling and canalization systems promote low water consumption for the survival of plants. The trees have also seen the installation of simple but innovative systems of steel cages to prevent uprooting and falling due to the action of the wind, flanked by steel cables that prevent the trunks from breaking. The exteriors are completely covered in two-tone porcelain stoneware slabs, in three large sizes 58 cm wide and 120, 110 and 100 cm high. During the executive design, it was important to study a careful and safe system of installation, fixing and maintenance In 2014 Il Bosco Verticale in Milan won the International Highrise Award, winning over the other five prestigious finalists of the international award. The building is LEED Gold certified.