Go Green The Use of Vegetation In The Works Of Jean Nouvel and Stefano Boer

the use of vegetation / nature in the works of Jean Nouvel and Stefano Boeri GO GREEN

By Francesca Pastore Urbanization poses new challenges to the society: the relation with nature has an important role in making the cities more liveable. It is possible to enjoy the benefits of both the city and nature if we find effective ways to incorporate greenery into the high- density high rise cities ofthe future. One such example of effective use of nature in an urban environment is the “Vertical Forest”, which acts as a new type of high-rise that emerges in urban environments. This article explores whether this type of building can provide solutions to the loss of urban landscape, the relation of residents with natural environment, the regulation of microclimate and of pollution

The Vertical Forest

The Vertical Forest is a complex of two residential tower buildings designed by Boeri Studio located in the Milan office district.

Jean Nouvel’

The project, inaugurated in 2014, includes two thousand tree species, distributed on the facades. The concept was to reforest the city, without having to occupy urban ground, given the increasing density of Milan; therefore, it was decided to develop the green vertically, increasing the plant biodiversity of the capital and also contributing to the mitigation of the microclimate, and to a better air. According to Stefano Boeri, the building was inspired by Italo Calvino's 1957 novel The Baron in the Trees, in which the protagonist decides to abandon the ground and live on the trees for the rest of his life. The project was named Bosco Verticale, or in English "Vertical Forest", because each tower houses 900 trees, 5,000 shrubs and 11,000 perennial plants, which help mitigate smog and produce oxygen. .

The plant-based shield filters the sun and creates a welcoming internal microclimate without harmful effects on the environment. At the same time, the green curtain "regulates" humidity, produces oxygen and absorbs CO2 and micro particles. With the vertical forest the architect wanted to define a new language of urban architecture based on the natural context and reconstitute its lost relation with the urban residents. On a formal level, the towers are mainly characterized by large, staggered and overhanging balconies, designed to accommodate large external vegetation, even over three floors of the building It is the answer to a contemporary desire? to live in a natural ecosystem without sacrificing city comfort, centrality and security. The towers combine the benefits of a high-rise building with the benefits of natural context: it offers environmental sustainability, provides the highest standards of comfort, and also offers to those who live breathtaking views and become a landmark in the skyline of the entire city. The greenery surrounding the terraces creates a feeling of intimacy and creates an evocative hanging garden landscape. The balance between architectural structure and technological systems guarantees optimal performance, guaranteed temperature, producing oxygen and absorbing of atmospheric pollution. The variations in colour and shapes of the plants produces an iridescent landmark in every season and it is highly recognizable even at a distance. This characteristic has resulted in the image of the Vertical Forest becoming a new symbol for Milan. It is the first biological and sustainable tower that has become a new architectural format, later replicated throughout the world.

A new Typology

Beyond a single building the “vertical forest” has become a new type of urban architecture with recent applications worldwide: in Lausanne, Nanjing, Utrecht, Paris, Liuzhou and also in Nicosia, Cyprus. In Nicosia, there is a project by the French architect Jean Nouvel, which resembles in some parts to the Boeri project. Situated in the heart of Nicosia, next to Eleftheria Square, it gives a new design to the old city; in fact, the close venetian walls hug the white and modern skyline, that become a landmark for the city because it is visible also from long distance. The building is considered environmental friendly for the use of vegetation that cover the south facade. Vegetation occupies most part of the balcony in each floor. The varying widths and depths of balconies on each floor creates a natural image as well as the illusion that the building is not static but actually 'breathing'. Apart of the aesthetic value of the nature in this work, there are also many advantages of this choice: the plants provide a natural filter, which acts as a “brise soleil” screening the radiation from the sun, and the wind; they also give a considerable amount of soundproofing for the apartments and the offices; they extend the living space outside to enjoy the Mediterranean climate and vegetation. This vertical garden provides a pleasant atmosphere inside the building, something much needed when living in the centre of a city. The east and west façade consists of a series of random pixelated small square windows that pierce the massive concrete walls and serve as openings for natural ventilation during hot days. At night they light up creating a memorable effect to the passenger. On the top two floors of the tower are occupied by a duplex apartment with a central court yard and shades that protect from the sun and leave the space open like a terrace. The project has become the last years an icon of the city.

Historical use of vegetation Green sustainable and environmentally-friendly architecture is not simply a beneficial for the environment. It is mainly place-sensitive; in a globalizing world it leads to location-specific architecture by responding to local climatic conditions and by using local materials. It also offers better architectural quality with more natural and fewer artificial inputs. It provides economic as well as aesthetically interesting solutions.

Urban rural With the increasing of urban population, the importance of the presence of urban green buildings also increases. The importance and power of urban green buildings based on their potentials to provide sustainable microclimatic environments within urban fabric. Additionally, in an urban scale the issues of conservation of fossil fuel and energy resources, and the need for more environmentally friendly energy sources are magnified.

Jean Nouvel’ ‘Tower 25,

Green or Not?

The use of green in a facade of a tall building is an innovative idea, which goes beyond the typical high rise example. The facade covered by vegetation becomes a live part of the building and in continuous transformation with the changing of the seasons. Beyond their immediate and obvious impact, these buildings also ask a series ofquestions: is it possible to make a building sustainable with a low budget? The main problem of these buildings, in particular the Vertical Forest, which contains more vegetation than Tower 25 (about 800 trees, 2500 shrubs and 1500 ornamental plants), concerns the weight of the vegetation on the structure, increasing the cost of construction and maintenance; moreover, there are also costs for irrigation, which is automatically transferred to the residents. It is proved that this kind of buildings cost more than typical ones and are probably directed to a limited range of users. The energy impact may be reduced, but costs of insulation, water-proofing and maintenance in general may be increased. Despite their positive aspects it appears that there are just as many negative aspects, which create the doubt whether these luxurious works are more architectural follies than actual masterpieces. Even from an ethical point of view, is it right to remove the agricultural green that could be used as public green, to make it privately owned by the rich? Regardless its negative aspects, this new type of urban architecture which is still in an experimental stage can acts as an incubator of nature in urban environments that are in scarcity of natural landscape. It can also offer a natural alternative to technical solutions using nature.

Bibliography

Tower 25, Wikipedia Bosco Verticale, Wikipeia The Greening of Architecture: A Critical History and Survey of Contemporary Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design. Dr A Senem Deviren, Dr Phillip James Tabb