Architect Stefano Boeri Unveils Plans For Africa’s First Vertical Forests

ByMyProperty Life

The Italian architect is on a mission to transform the world's cities into lush living landscapes—and his next target is Cairo.

In 2014, Stefano Boeri Architetti built the world’s first Vertical Forest in Milan—and now the firm is setting its sights on Cairo, which has been ranked as one of the world’s most polluted cities. The firm just unveiled plans for three new buildings in southeast Cairo that will be covered from head to toe in flourishing plant life—and construction is set to begin next year.

The living facades will feature hundreds of species of plants, and they’ll serve as giant air filters, eating eight tons of CO2 each year and spitting seven tons of oxygen back out. They’ll also reduce the urban heat island effect, making the city more hospitable for its denizens.

The three buildings—a hotel and two residential towers—will host hundreds of plants and trees. The Vertical Forest will act as a giant air filter for the city.
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The three buildings—a hotel and two residential towers—will host hundreds of plants and trees. The project will act as a giant air filter for the city.

Courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti

The project will host biodiversity specific to the North African region. Whereas forests and green areas in urban settings often hog space, the buildings take advantage of unused headroom to flex more muscle with a fraction of the land.

The living facades will host biodiversity specific to the North African region.

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Courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti

“Cairo can become the first North African metropolis to face the big challenges of climate change and ecological reconversion,” said Boeri in a statement issued by his firm.

Undeveloped land is hard to come by in Cairo, so a Vertical Forest may actually make sense. Whereas a forest of 350 trees typically requires about two acres of land, a Vertical Forest can pack the same ecologically beneficial punch in about an eighth of that space.

At seven stories high, each building will be about 10,000 square feet.
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Each building will be seven stories high and roughly 10,000 square feet.

Courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti

See the full story on Dwell.com: Architect Stefano Boeri Unveils Plans For Africa’s First Vertical Forests
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