Vertical Forests

INCREASING PRESSURES DRIVE DEVELOPERS AND ARCHITECTS TO CREATE BUILDINGS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND

Construction is one of the top five industries contributing to climate change. Where it sits in this top five varies depending on where you are consulting, but there is no denying that it has a large impact, so developers are now looking to more sustainable practices.

There are exciting innovations when it comes to architecture, incorporating new technology and materials in sometimes startling ways to minimise impact on the environment. Although great steps are being taken, it can be a slow process and there are challenges to be addressed. Burdensome implementation, lack of support, resistance to change and the high cost of green options can all cause developers and architects to think twice about using the latest product. Developers can experience a larger outlay with green designs, and often these expenses are only recouped in the long term, and unlikely to benefit them directly. In addition, there is a general lack of information around products and lack of knowledge from clients and developers regarding the benefits of green building. This is all about to change.

The EU has set a target for all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by 2020 and a body to issue guidance and accreditation for green buildings has been created; the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). According to the EPBD website, buildings are responsible for around 40% of energy consumption, and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU. The benefits of reaching the set targets won’t just be environmental. There are economic benefits in people upskilling, factories producing new products, more jobs and R&D for new materials and innovation. There is also a measurable impact of contact with nature on mental health, as well as more comfort offered by higher tech living spaces.

One of the biggest barriers to sustainable environments is the mental barrier to believing that we can make a difference; we need to act with a combined will. In some places this is already happening. In 2014, led by its residents, Burlington in Vermont became the first US city to run completely on green energy. The citizens were concerned about the steadily reducing snowfall, and they committed to changing. Closer to home, Liverpool has pledged to become the world’s first ‘carbon-positive’ city by the end of 2020 in an ambitious plan comprising of new technology, developments and changing habits.

With the internet disseminating ideas easier, as well as distressing videos of sea-life struggling with plastic, more and more places are moving towards sustainability. Perhaps surprisingly, China is one of the innovators in green planning. The world’s first ‘Forest City’ is currently being developed in Liuzhou, Guangxi Province. Upon its completion it will be home to 30,000 people, around 1 million bio-diverse plants, and absorb around 20 million pounds of CO2 and over 100,000 pounds of pollutants annually. The city will also be self-sufficient and run on renewables; it should be completed in 2020, and the world will be watching to see if it succeeds.

It may be a while before we see something similar in the UK or Europe, however BITA member Pierre Saunal, architect and partner at Create Design and Architecture, says that this is already happening in a different form. “China has the luxury of space and has less restrictions, both of which mean that they can be bold and innovative with their new cities. The EU is struggling with much less buildable land, and old housing/building stock. What you see now in the UK and EU, is those older buildings being updated to be more sustainable. It is a slow change, but a steady one.” This is great news for SMEs as they make up around 70% of businesses involved in upgrading these buildings, meaning more contracts and more jobs.

It might be less visually arresting than a forest city, but updating old building stock is still an efficient way of improving our living spaces. Although this is in line with the new EU legislation, it doesn’t help to legislate without providing avenues to combat the difficulties that developers face.

Aware that cost is the biggest barrier, the government offers subsidies on some initiatives, and can decide to reduce the tax burden on projects. Depending on circumstances R&D tax credit refunds can be claimed and rebates on some initiatives can offset this cost. In addition, current investors in property are more aware of the environmental impact we have and are willing to pay more for an energy efficient environment. “It’s the same as any other technology” says Pierre; “new innovations always cost a lot, whether insulation 20 years ago, solar panels 10 years ago, or new materials now.”

When asked about his thoughts on what developers and architects can do now to create a quick, cost-effective positive environmental impact, Pierre has a surprising answer. “It’s all about adaptability, and ability of buildings to be flexible to multi-use space. An office today can be a block of flats tomorrow. The great heating system you installed could look ancient and inefficient in six years and need updating. The ability of your building to adapt to change is the easiest thing to do.”

It’s not all about efficiency and energy saving, city planners are starting to consider ‘daylighting’ rivers (see box ‘Digging up the past’) to improve wellbeing and the environment, and architects should also consider the impact on biodiversity. Could a rooftop garden create a haven for bees, and will butterflies appreciate foliage heavy exterior walls?

One innovative building in Europe is the Bosco Verticale in Milan, envisioned by Stefano Borei Architetti, and completed in 2012. This is same team behind the Liuzhou forest city in China, and they are planning similar projects in other cities across Europe. Comprised of two high-rise towers of 26 and 18 floors, they are home to 800 trees, 4,500 shrubs and 15,000 plants. Over 90 species of plants are represented, and it is hoped that this will increase the bio-diversity of birds and insects in the area. According to their website, their ‘Vertical Forest helps to build a micro-climate.... The diversity of the plants helps to create humidity and absorbs CO2 and dust, produces oxygen, protects people and houses from harmful sun rays and from acoustic pollution’ (see page 46, issue 2).

The extremely noticeable Bosco Verticale notwithstanding, reduced visibility of schemes in the UK and Europe can make it difficult to appreciate how much we are pushing towards a more sustainable future, and images like those from forest cities and vertical forests can certainly grab the eye. But it isn’t one size fits all, we need to decide what works best with what we have, and that will certainly include cost considerations. Governments have their parts to play, increasing subsidies and reducing tax on innovative or efficient buildings are just two things they can do to ensure we all enjoy a green future.