PROMINENT GREEN BUILDINGS- 2
BOSCO VERTICALE ITALY:
Architect Boeri Studio: Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca, Giovanni La Varra
Floor area360,000 square meters (3,900,000 sq ft)
Bosco Italy Verticale is a residential tower was inaugurated in October 2014 in Milan in the Porta Nuova Isola area, as part of a wider renovation project led by Hines Italia. Milan vertical forest consists of two tower of 80 and 112 meters, hosting 480 large and medium trees. 300 small trees, 11,000 perennials and covering plants and 5,000 shrubs. The equivalent — over an urban surface of 1,500 m2 — of 20, 000 m2 of forest and undergrowth.
CONCEPT:
The Vertical Forest is an architectural concept which replaces traditional materials on urban surfaces using the changing polychrome of leaves for its walls. 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 in the trees for the rest of his life. The project was named Bosco Verticale, or in English “Vertical Forest”, because together the towers have 900 trees, 5,000 shrubs and 11,000 perennial plants, which help mitigate smog and produce oxygen. The biological architect relies on a screen of vegetation, needing to create a suitable microclimate and filter sunlight, and rejecting the narrow technological and mechanical approach to environmental sustainability.
With more than 90 species, the buildings’ biodiversity is expected to attract new bird and insect species to the city. It is also used to moderate temperatures in the building in the winter and summer, by shading the interiors from the sun and blocking harsh winds. The vegetation also protects the interior spaces from noise pollution and dust from street-level traffic.
The building itself is self-sufficient by using renewable energy from solar panels and filtered waste water to sustain the buildings’ plant life. These green technology systems reduce the overall waste and carbon footprint of the towers.
Botanists and horticulturalists were consulted by the engineering team to ensure that the structure could bear the load imposed by the plants. The steel-reinforced concrete balconies are designed to be 28 cm thick, with 1.30 meter parapets.
SITE PLAN:
The Vertical Forest increases biodiversity. It promotes the formation of an urban ecosystem where various plant types create a separate vertical environment, but which works within the existing network, able to be inhabited by birds and insects (with an initial estimate of 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies). In this way, it constitutes a spontaneous factor for repopulating the city’s flora and fauna.
FLOOR PLANS:
The Vertical Forest is an anti-sprawl method which helps to control and reduce urban expansion. In terms of urban density, each tower constitutes the equivalent of a peripheral area of single family houses and buildings of around 50,000 m2.
SECTIONS:
Due to towering heights, terrace cantilevering, and heavy plantings, Arup performed geotechnical and structural engineering studies, including wind tunnel testing. With the buildings constructed completely in concrete, the columns are made of reinforced concrete and the floors are post-tensioned reinforced concrete.
CHANGING FACADE:
The choice of species and their distribution according to the orientation and height of façades is the result of three years of studies carried out alongside a group of botanists and ethologists. The plants which are used on the building were pre-cultivated in a nursery in order for them to become accustomed to similar conditions to those which they will find on the balconies.
The Vertical Forest helps to build a microclimate and to filter fine particles contained in the urban environment. The diversity of plants helps to develop the microclimate which produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and particles, produces oxygen, and protects against radiation and noise pollution.
This vertical farming is an ever evolving landmark of the city where the colors changes on different season.
HYDRATION AND IRRIGATION:
Purpose:
Vertical Forest helps to build a micro-climate and to filter dust particles which are present in the urban environment. 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.
Sustainability:
Gold LEED certified
Geothermic heat pumps: 4
Energetic power of solar panels covering the building: 26kWp
Contribution to the reduction of heat loss due to the micro-climate created by the plants: approx. 2 degrees
Contribution to the reduction of air pollution: transformation of CO2 into O2: approx. 20,000 kg/year
Total length of perimeter basins: 1,7 Km
Depth of perimeter planting basins: 1 m
Type of earth (growing media): as specified by the type of greenery
CO2 Absorption: 30 ton /year
O2 Production: 52 kg/day
Surface of forest: 20.000 sqm
CO2 Absorption: 19.000 kg/year
O2 Production: 18.980 kg/year
20.000 sqm of forest
Towers
Tower D: 85 m
Tower E: 116 m
Number of floors tower D: 19
Number of floors tower E: 27
Total number of apartments: 113
Tower D: 9.417 sqm
Tower E: 18.717 sqm
Biodiversity:
Number of trees: 800
Number of shrubs: 5.000
Number of climbers and perennial plants: 15.000
Number of tree species: 23
Number of plant and herbs species: 94
Average greenery for each person living in the towers:
Trees: 2
Shrubs: 8
Plants: 40
Number of inhabitants planned in both towers: 480
Number of bird species with nests in the towers: 20
Construction cost:
$87.5 million Bosco Verticale will cost EUR65 million (US$87.5 million) and is stage one of the proposed Bio Milano, which is hoped to create a green belt around the city.
ORGANO’s NAANDI RURBAN COMMUNITY- Hyderabad
INTRODUCTION:
The project is an residential development covering an area of 35 acres, situated on the outskirts of the city of Hyderabad in India. The vision of Organo Naandi is to promote community living and social welfare through the concept of collective farming in a sustainable manner . Previously a barren zone, the site has been transformed into an ecologically rich parcel of land through many thoughtful interventions, the residents can stroll through the lush green mini-forests while breathing fresh, clean air. The site is laden with a diverse variety of birds and butterflies in all forms and colors in the midst of dense plantations. A slow-paced lifestyle rooted in traditional values is encouraged where people become farmers in their own kitchen gardens while being involved in the community activities. The development also caters to the sustenance of local farmers through the urban farms. Not just the built environment, but the lifestyle of the residents is also enriched.
ABOUT:
Headquartered in Hyderabad in India, Organo is an organization founded by a multi-talented and enthusiastic team of architects & design thinkers focused on the idea of environmentally conscious living.
GOAL:
Organo’s goal is to develop communities that incorporate Saptha Patha, the seven different aspects of sustainability (Food, Water, Energy, Earth, Air, Shelter and People), to ensure Samvriddhi, which means prosperity for all stakeholders in and around the community. Naandi, IGBC Platinum rated community in India, is our first step towards this larger aspiration.
CONCEPT AND PLANNING:
- Seven strands of sustainability(Energy, Water, air, Shelter, People, Earth, Food)
- Waste management includes biogas treatment, sewage treatment
- Water management includes water purifier, rain water harvesting.
- Landscape architecture includes herbal gardens, square foot garden personal gardening, forest land, animal husbandry.
- They also practicing organic forming around some villages, around 92 farmers are in their organization.
This concept was further translated through each of the following seven systems into the design:
Food: Fresh crops, vegetables & fruits to be organically grown at the
site and consumed by the residents. Practice of apiculture and
production of dairy products to complement the farm.
Water: Watershed management techniques to harvest and treat water.
Shelter: Climate responsive design in harmony with Nature.
People: The interactions of people within as well as outside the community with an element of social welfare.
Air: Clean air supplied to the individual residential
units through earth tunnel system.
Earth: Enrichment of soil through organic farming practices.
Energy: Use of Energy efficiency techniques coupled
with energy generation mechanisms.
SITE PLAN:
Food:
Water:
The goal of the project is to ensure zero discharge i.e. the captured
storm water and the generated greywater at the site is recycled, treated and utilized within the site.
People:
The project attempts to imbibe inclusivity among all residents while fostering a sense of social welfare. The site and its activities are designed to ensure high levels of human interaction within its periphery as well as outside the community.
The Bio-pond, bamboo clubhouse and the community farms which are ecological spaces deeply rooted in Nature, serve as magnets for human interactions. Along with the privileges associated, there are mandatory and social responsibilities which the residents must carry out.
Social responsibilities constitute educational programs and healthcare drives by utilizing the facilities provided inside the development. Healthcare drives are conducted frequently for the nearby villagers.
Credits are earned by performing the mandatory responsibilities which mainly include maintenance activities.
This system quantifies the consumption and the contribution of each family unit in all the seven categories i.e. air, water, food, energy, earth, people and shelter. The system is devised so as to ensure that the residents are committed to the cause of sustainability.
Shelter:
Further, they can also be utilized for the installation of vertical
landscape. In the master plan , all villas overlook the community farmlands located in the center.
The low density development with abundant landscape creates a relatively cooler micro climate that in turn improves the outdoor as well as indoor thermal comfort. Covering an area of around 10,750 sq.ft, the clubhouse at Organo.
Energy:
Air:
Rapid urbanization has led to a steep rise in air pollution lowering the air quality index in cities. The site development with farms, vegetation and water bodies creates a better micro climate at Organo Naandi and hence a better air quality.
Earth:
The vision was to re-establish a relationship with soil. For this purpose, various strategies have been implemented such as: Organic manure recovered by the bio-gas reactors.
Biological pest control Permaculture and crop rotation. Vermicomposting where earthworms enrich the soil.
Another practice carried out on the site is to leave the soil undisturbed for a period of time after harvesting a batch of crops to allow the soil to recover.
RESIDENTAIL PLANS:
