A new mixed-use project from Stefano Boeri Architects, Nanjing Vertical Forest will comprise two towers rising from a 20-meter shared podium. What makes this project unique is, according to the architects, this will be the first vertical forest built not only in China, but in all of Asia.
The building’s facades will feature 600 tall trees and 500 medium trees from 23 different local species. Another 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs will be included, as well. In total, the trees and other plants will cover a 6 square mile area and absorb 25 tons of CO2 per year. The plants will also produce about 60 kilograms of oxygen per day. To help put that into perspective, the average person needs 0.84 kilograms of oxygen per day, according to NASA.
One of the towers will rise 200 meters and be topped with a “green lantern” while the other tower will rise 108 meters. The 200-meter tower will include a museum, a green architecture school, and a private rooftop club. The 108-meter tower will house a 247-room Hyatt hotel and a rooftop swimming pool. Both towers will rise from a 20-meter podium that will host retail space, a food market, restaurants, a conference hall, and exhibition spaces.
The project is Stefano Boeri Architects’ third vertical forest prototype, after Milan and Lausanne. The firm plans to bring vertical forests to other Chinese cities such as Guizhou, Shanghai, and Chongqing at a later date. The Nanjing Vertical Forest will be completed in 2018.
Rendering courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architects.
Rendering courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architects.
Related Stories
| Dec 5, 2011
New York and San Francisco receive World Green Building Council's Government Leadership Awards
USGBC commends two U.S. cities for their innovation in green building leadership.
| Dec 5, 2011
Fraser Brown MacKenna wins Green Gown Award
Working closely with staff at Queen Mary University of London, MEP Engineers Mott MacDonald, Cost Consultants Burnley Wilson Fish and main contractor Charter Construction, we developed a three-fold solution for the sustainable retrofit of the building.
| Dec 2, 2011
What are you waiting for? BD+C's 2012 40 Under 40 nominations are due Friday, Jan. 20
Nominate a colleague, peer, or even yourself. Applications available here.
| Dec 1, 2011
VLK Architects’ office receives LEED certification
The West 7th development, which houses the firm’s office, was designed to be LEED for Core & Shell, which gave VLK the head start on finishing out the area for LEED Silver Certification CI.
| Nov 29, 2011
Report finds credit crunch accounts for 20% of nation’s stalled projects
Persistent financing crunch continues to plague design and construction sector.
| Nov 28, 2011
Nauset Construction completes addition for Franciscan Hospital for Children
The $6.5 million fast-track, urban design-build projectwas completed in just over 16 months in a highly sensitive, occupied and operational medical environment.
| Nov 22, 2011
Report finds that L.A. lags on solar energy, offers policy solutions
Despite robust training programs, L.A. lacks solar jobs; lost opportunity for workers in high-need communities.
| Nov 22, 2011
New Green Matters Conference examines emerging issues in concrete and sustainability
High-interest topics will be covered in technical seminars, including infrared reflective coatings for heat island mitigation, innovative uses of concrete to provide cooling and stormwater management, environmental benefits of polished concrete, and advancements in functional resilience of architectural concrete.
| Nov 15, 2011
Suffolk Construction breaks ground on the Victor housing development in Boston
Project team to manage construction of $92 million, 377,000 square-foot residential tower.
| Nov 8, 2011
Transforming a landmark coastal resort
Originally built in 1973, the building had received several alterations over the years but the progressive deterioration caused by the harsh salt water environment had never been addressed.
