What if a building could host more plants than the entire nearby park? This is the vision of designer Koichi Takada Architects who plans to build a beautiful green Urban Forest in Brisbane, Australia.
The proposed building would be covered in 1,000 trees and 20,000 plants, including 259 native species. It will have five times more trees than the nearby Musgrave Park. The conceptual designs look more like a towering jungle than a 30-floor skyscraper. In addition to the plants, the building will also feature sustainable technology like solar power and rainwater collection.
Vertical planting is increasing in popularity for its environmental and community benefits. The plants bring beauty, biodiversity, cleaner water, and oxygen to urban spaces and the increased greenery has been linked to improved mental health. The plants also help insulate the building and provide a cooling effect to reduce energy usage.
Disguised by the green exterior, the ground floor of the building will also include a small public park and the rooftop will be home to a two-story garden area for residents of the 382 apartments within the structure.
Once approved by the city, Aria Property Group will break ground on the innovating building. Incorporating plants and trees into urban spaces is a great solution for better environmental and human health.
