Design for a Greener World

Visitors to Milan, Italy, may be surprised to see . . . a forest flourishing in the sky. The 2014 green design shown above is called the Vertical Forest. 

About 20,000 trees and plants grow out of two residential towers in Milan, Italy. Designers at Stefano Boeri Architetti (STEF-ah-noh BUER-ee AR-keeh-TET-ee), an architecture firm with a focus on urban design, are the masterminds behind the Vertical Forest.

Approximately 1,600 birds and butterflies live in the Vertical Forest! The firm describes the concept for the design as a “home for trees that also houses humans and birds.” The plants and trees grow from deep planters on each of the large balconies. The plants help control humidity, produce oxygen, and absorb carbon dioxide and microparticles, reducing the buildings’ carbon footprint. The plants help create a climate-controlled interior by filtering sunlight entering through the windows. 

A team of “Flying Gardeners” descend from the buildings’ rooftops like mountain climbers to care for the gardens. And computers monitor and water the plants using the buildings’ irrigation system. 

If you were in Milan, Italy, you might be surprised to see a forest high in the sky. The 2014 Vertical Forest, above, is a green design. The architects aimed to protect the local environment and community through the design. About 20,000 trees and plants grow out of two apartment towers. Architects from the Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architetti (STEH-fah-noh BWER-ee ar-kee-TEH-tee) say the design is a “home for trees that also houses humans and birds.” About 1,600 birds and butterflies live in the Vertical Forest! The foliage grows from planters on the balconies. The plants produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to climate change. They filter sunlight, keeping the interiors cool. 

“Flying Gardeners” use ropes to climb from the roofs and care for the plants. A digital system waters the plants using the buildings’ water supply.

Architects at the Danish firm Dorte Mandrup (DOR-teh MAN-druhp) draw attention to natural landscapes. The 2019 structure above overlooks a massive fjord, or sea inlet, and glacier on the west coast of Greenland. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the town of Ilulissat 

(IL-uhl-IS-sat). Scientists have studied the glacier for more than 250 years. Today, they witness climate change in action as the glacier breaks apart. Called the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, the building is a museum and research center for visitors to learn about the local environment. 

Architects developed the building’s organic form carefully. The curved shape minimizes snow buildup, which would block views of the glacier. The roof is also a walkway on which visitors can take in the landscape. The structure is mostly wood and recycled steel. These lightweight materials reduce the building’s impact on the ancient bedrock.

The building shown above is in the town of Ilulissat (ih-loo-LEE-sat) in Greenland. It’s near a huge glacier that scientists have studied for more than 250 years. Today, rising temperatures are causing the glacier to break apart. 

The building is called the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. It’s a research center for visitors to learn about the local environment. Architects at the Danish firm Dorte Mandrup (DOR-teh MAN-druhp) developed the design with the site in mind. Visitors can walk on the roof and take in the landscape. Architects designed the curved shape to prevent snow buildup. The frame is mostly recycled steel. This light material reduces the building’s impact on the ground. 

In Malawi, a country in southeast Africa, some students walk miles to get to their schools, which are often overcrowded. Traditional building methods are expensive and time-consuming there. This has led to a school shortage. Last year, 14Trees, a Swiss cement manufacturer, addressed this problem by 3-D printing a new schoolhouse, above. 

A 3-D printer uses minimal materials to quickly make three-dimensional designs. First, architects rendered the school’s design using a computer program. They digitally sent the plans to a 3-D printer containing wet concrete. Then the printer’s computer-controlled nozzle layered concrete to build up each wall. The construction took only 15 hours, which is considerably shorter than the amount of time it takes to build a school with conventional materials.

Large-scale 3-D printing is growing in popularity as a sustainable design solution. Architects are also using this technology to build low-cost homes  in areas facing housing crises.

In Malawi, a country in southeast Africa, some students walk miles to get to school. And schools are often too crowded. But it can be expensive to build more. This has caused a school shortage. Last year, a Swiss company 3-D printed a new schoolhouse, shown above. 

A 3-D printer makes three-dimensional designs quickly and without wasting material. Architects first made a digital model of the building on a computer. They sent the plans to a 3-D printer containing wet concrete. A computer-controlled nozzle layered concrete to build the walls. The construction took only 15 hours! Building a school using normal methods takes longer. 

Today, more architects are using 3-D printing as a sustainable and affordable design method.