Milan, Italy, known as the "world fashion and design capital", has started construction of two skyscrapers "tree towers", which will be the world's first pair of green apartments.
The sister buildings with a height of 365 feet (about 111.25 meters) and 260 feet (about 79.28 meters).
A total of 730 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 herbaceous plants will be planted layer by layer along the outer wall. The building is also known as the "Vertical Forest".
This pair of buildings named "Vertical Forest" was designed by Stefano Boeri (Stefano Boeri), 58, a famous architectural design firm "Studio Boeri", since 2006. It was inspired by tree planting.
Boeri said: "Why can't we erect the flat forest and build a common home for man and nature in a big city where every inch of land is expensive?"The designer hopes that the pair of sister buildings can reduce urban traffic pollution and shield local residents from the scorching sun of the Mediterranean Sea, and can naturally change the appearance of the building with the changing seasons—green in spring and colorful in autumn.
Residents of the "skyscraper forest" will not only be humans and plants but also birds, insects, and small animals that usually make their homes in various squares in Milan.
The plants in the "Vertical Forest" will produce different scenery according to the seasons: in spring, these trees will become a green landscape; Residents bring coolness; in autumn, the leaves of these different types of trees will form a colorful beauty; in winter, after the leaves of the trees on the "vertical forest" building are gone, the bare trees will not affect the residents sitting on the balcony basking in the sun.
Like any high-rise or urban construction project, the Vertical Forest Tower in Milan, Italy, has certain safety concerns. However, it is worth noting that the tower was designed and built with safety in mind and meets or exceeds all relevant safety standards and regulations.
Here are some potential safety hazards that may be associated with vertical forest towers:
1. Fire risk: The presence of vegetation on tower balconies may increase the fire risk. However, the building is equipped with refractory materials and advanced fire suppression systems to minimize this risk. Additionally, the tower has a dedicated fire brigade on-site, trained to deal with any potential fire incidents.
2. Wind loads: Due to the height of the tower and its unique design, wind loads can be a potential safety hazard. However, the towers have been wind tunnel tested and designed to meet wind load standards, ensuring structural stability and safety.
3. Elevators and evacuation: Towers have a large number of residential units, and in the event of an emergency evacuation, it can be challenging to evacuate all residents in a timely and safe manner. However, the towers are equipped with state-of-the-art elevators and the building has multiple emergency evacuation routes and exits to ensure safe evacuation for all residents.
4. Maintenance: The maintenance of vegetation on the balcony may pose a safety hazard to maintenance personnel. However, the towers have been designed to minimize this risk and are equipped with a system of hooks and ropes that allow maintenance personnel to safely access the balconies.
Overall, the Vertical Forest Tower has been designed with safety in mind, meeting or exceeding all relevant safety standards and regulations.
