Fashionable, innovative, ecological design, are all elements that seem enough to see on vertical gardens the great promise. However there is much more than that: simple gardens or urban farming these extraordinary structures makes the difference for shaping a sustainable way of urban living.
Currently, around 3.5 billion of people lives in cities and there is estimated that by 2050, almost 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
This innovative gardens would change the concept of living in cities and contribute directly on reducing climate change impact; e.g. Santalaia building in Bogotá, Colombia produces oxygen for more than 3,100 people every year and filter more than 2,000 tons of harmful gases*. Inside or outside of the buildings this “Green fashion” transforms simple walls or spaces into truly generators of energy.
It´d also served as producer of ecological food: in Tokyo, Pasona Group introduces the concept of urban farming at its headquarters. An office-building that integrates a farm into the office and allows employees to grow and harvest their own food*.
And all the additional versions such as green roofing or/and portable gardens and farms that helps to insulate houses naturally and keep energy consumption down, therefore reducing costs and the negative impact on the environment.
It’s imperative that urban planning is designed according to healthy standards of living. The introduction of “green”: vertical gardens, green roofs, parks, more walk able areas, plants turn to generators of electricity, transport powered by clean energies, solar, wind energy, urban farming, etc. All are green pieces of an urban puzzle that boost resilience*. In which vertical gardens/farms are one of those pieces that makes the difference and not necessary depends on the public sector but on a strong individual determination for change.
However, this new concept demands new educational standards that serve as pillar for building cities around green patterns. That is nothing more than a cultural process of changing.
Once the concept of “culture around green” is established is not much difficult to consolidate projects of this kind. However the public initiative is always the framework for balanced urban planning green initiatives. Is it so, that the burden of the financial side its more about a change of minds rather than lack of interest.
In current times of crises rely on the public sector may be frustrated, if we add the fact of climate change denial coming mainly from one of the most important countries in the world, we see that individual action become key more than ever.
Only the power of a green culture, that change individual habits and boost private initiatives may overcome other “powers” representing by strong private financial interests and are preventing for a better development of an international green framework. Vertical gardens are just one expression of the importance of the private initiative to struggle against this trend of denial that even it doesn’t represent the majority of the people it influence millions of them.
Vertical gardens, urban farming, portable garden or just green walls outside or inside buildings are showing that its possible and that responsible, sustainable living its part of design/innovative projects and a new way of focusing architecture.
As a difference to other green projects, green walls are attractive visually and fits in any design project which makes easier to introduce it to any private initiative as well as the public sphere within an urban planning strategy.
Innovation is once again that essential link for making of these projects a successful, affordable and long-term impact idea.
Is precisely the fact that it fits with an innovative creative design that makes it attractive for private investment and not submitted to the slow process of public procedures. Although, meanwhile the private boost is anarchic and not always steady, the public support represents a well-structured initiative with future perspectives for building entire cities. Stefano Boeri project and its project for a massive vertical garden city in Liuzhou, China shows that it’s achievable in the short term if there is political will and citizen´s impulse*
Imagine the future…. overpopulated cities but green spaces, vertical gardens/farms in private houses and office-buildings. It´s possible, is happening and it just need that boost from the public sector with well-designed projects of urban planning and a investment strategy that combines transport, health, energy and education.
Vertical gardens/farms are a matter of urban planning through individual creativity and a public commitment. Just trust that when nature and architecture comes together the magic begins….
*Pasona Group. Office Building and vertical farming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJMZRIRkZWs
*”Resilient cities. Password: Green”
https://thesustainabilityreader.com/2016/10/12/resilient-cities-system-password-green/
*Forest city, China, Stefano Boeri
https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/portfolios/liuzhou-forest-city/
“Architecture as a tool for building resilient cities” https://thesustainabilityreader.com/2017/03/01/architecture-as-a-tool-for-building-resilient-cities/
*For Green innovation we need green Education
https://thesustainabilityreader.com/2017/05/03/for-green-innovation-we-need-green-education/
*Picture: Bosco Verticale, Stefano Boeri
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