The Vertical Forest is a pair of eco-friendly residential buildings in Milan, Italy, designed by Stefano Boeri, head of the Boeri Studio, and completed in October 2014. The two buildings are approximately 111.25 meters and 79.28 meters high respectively, with their facades planted with 730 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 herbaceous plants, forming a vertical green belt equivalent to 11,000 square meters. The design concept originated from a tree-planting event in 2006, aiming to purify the air, regulate temperature, and provide habitats for birds and insects through plants.
This pair of buildings, named "Vertical Forest," was designed by the renowned architectural firm Stefano Boeri, then 58 years old, starting in 2006, inspired by a tree-planting event. "Why can't we stand up a sprawling forest, creating a home where people and nature coexist in a densely populated city where land is incredibly valuable?" Boeri said. The designers hope these sister buildings will reduce urban traffic pollution, provide shade from the Mediterranean sun for local residents, and naturally change their appearance with the seasons—lush and green in spring, vibrant and colorful in autumn.
Furthermore, the plants on the buildings will present different views with the seasons: in summer, the foliage will provide shade and coolness for residents, and in winter, even after the leaves fall, residents can still enjoy the sun on their balconies.