Stefano Boeri, an Italian architect known for his “vertical forest” buildings that integrate trees into high-rise structures, discusses his vision for more sustainable and biodiverse cities with star curator Hans Ulrich Obrist.
Boeri explains how the vertical forest concept was driven by his desire to integrate nature into architecture, leading to his firm’s pioneering projects in Milan and other cities.
Realizing this concept required a lot of research. “We had to study how to have a tree maybe 20, 25 meters high”, Boeri recalls, “how to irrigate this multitude of plants, how to deal with the wind.”
Boeri also talks explains how he hopes to scale up this model and to make it more affordable and accessible.
Boeri emphasizes the importance of collaboration with scientists and botanists to ensure the selection of local plant species and the creation of sustainable ecosystems within his buildings.
Watch the video to find out more about Boeri’s vision of “Europe as a Park”, his idea of a “Ministry of Forests”, and his firm’s Lumbini project in Nepal, which aims to create a spiritual park and forest around the birthplace of Buddha.
