5 Vertical Forests Transforming Cityscapes Around the World

In the concrete jungles of the world's rapidly expanding cities, a new trend is taking root: vertical forests. Over the years, these mammoth structures covered with abundant vegetation canopy have changed the skyline of many cities and how people live in cities. Here are five real vertical forests in different parts of the world that have brought the feel of a jungle into the urban realm.

1. Nanjing, China: "Living Towers"

At the moment, 'greenifying' of the main mega-city in China, Nanjing, residents are waiting for Living Towers, multilevel structures with thousands of trees that can turn an entire facade of the city into a green zone. Aside from making the facades appealing, authorities have estimated that the greenery incorporated into the buildings' exteriors will improve the air quality and boost the energy consumption of buildings, establishing what will become the standard for future city structures.

2. Cancun, Mexico: "Smart Forest City"

Challenges associated with urbanization and sustainability are transforming the esteemed architectural firm based in Italy, Stefano Boeri Architetti, into implementing the Smart Forest City in Cancun, Mexico. It is planned to span over close to 557 ha and also incorporates ideas to provide living spaces for up to 130,000 residents nestled in a lush green environment. Every surface covered in greenery is now adorned externally and even on the rooftop; a new dimension in creating an environment that makes it difficult to distinguish between the urban and the natural world is emerging.

3. Egypt's First Vertical Forest

Thanks to a collaboration between Stefano Boeri Architetti, Egyptian designer Shimaa Shalash, and Italian landscape architect Laura Gatti, Egypt is set to welcome Africa's first vertical forest. Suggested for Egypt's New Administrative Capital near Cairo, the project will entail three inhabiting buildings with terraces that will accommodate 350 trees and 14,000 shrubs. However, with views alone, there is beauty and some sustainability in increasing the region's built-in ecosystem.

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4. Milan, Italy: "Bosco Verticale"

Milan, Italy, also has a vertical tree-looking duo called 'Bosco Verticale' (vertical forest). The construction of two towers, completed in 2014, is decorated with more than 20 thousand plants, which perform the function of Green Development for the city. Besides significant environmental improvement, vertical forests are known to reduce noise and stabilize temperature, thus improving living standards within cities or towns of residence.

5. Utrecht, Netherlands: Future Vertical Forests

Utrecht, Netherlands, can also be expected to join the vertical forest camp as the city plans to build some green towers. In the same regard as the ecological interests of the town, the plan is to have over 10.000 plants on the towers' façade, creating an even more symbiosis between building construction and nature.

Light and sustainable, these 'hotels' or 'buildings can become one of the solutions to make the cities develop sustainably and resist issues of urbanization. The observation regarding projects undertaken in many parts of the world has made the concept of jungles in the town feasible to make urban environments more sustainable for inhabitants of the cities globally.

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