In the era of rapid urbanisation space is low and human beings are more. People are not getting enough spaces for living in urban areas.Here comes a major problem , space not left for humans then how we can plant trees and greenery? The traditional architectures felt challenges. They had to improve air quality and surroundings as well.
The concept of vertical forests was first introduced by Italian architect. Vertical forest high raise buildings which incorporate with small plants shrubs, herbs and grasses. In this blog we will discuss This topic very deeply and cover all the aspects like hidden vertical forest benefits , vertical forest design living wall architecture which is either not covered or not available deeply.
What Are the UnKnown Benefits of Vertical Forests?
There is a lot of green wall benefit. In this section we are covering those vertical forest benefits which are rarely covered .They didn’t get priority but they are bringing major changes in the environment here are some :-
1. Urban Breeze cycle enhancement : urban bleach cycle is a natural phenomena in which year flows toward the centre of the city at lower altitude and go away from the city at higher attitude this phenomena occurs due to variation in the temperature between urban areas and rural areas.
Vertical forest helps in guiding and modification of natural wind pattern. It brings natural winds to the high density urban zones. In Sacramento, expanding tree canopy led to a 7% reduction in peak ozone levels and a 50% drop in smog events, according to the US Forest Service. It also helps in air quality improvment.
2. Greywater Bio-filtration in facade plant : currently vertical forest are design in a way that they can filter grey water through the facad integrated vegitation. It helps in the reduction of stormwater runoff. The grey water bio filtration also helps introducing load on sewage system . The water is reused by the plants. The University College London (UCL) “Total Value Wall” study reported a 90% reduction in Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and 82% drop in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) using green walls.
3. VR mimic stress buffering – Biophilic illusion : biophilic illusion is the designe philosophy which says that we humans like either nature visuals and sensory or real connection with it , for well being mental health. Virtual reality mimic means if real plants are not available but greenery is present on the walls of a building either digitally or any fake illusion, our brain gives natural response.
Studies has proven that whenever a person see green vertical walls their cortisol level ( stress hormone) get reduced. A 2023 randomized trial in Philadelphia showed that vacant-lot greening led to a 41–68% decrease in depression symptoms.
4. Boosting social cohesion(connection) and education: many local communities are appointed for the maintenance of the vertical forest specially in low income housing or urban community blocks. The community take a collective responsibility of the maintenance. They performed watering, pruning and cleaning of the structure
Studies show that visible greenery in residential areas increases neighborhood social cohesion and interaction. It also help in reduction of crime and isolation in this region. When the vertical forest and made outside the school or the classroom children’s interact with the vertical forest and the Teachers give them knowledge about it like live living wall architecture, vertical forest benefits.
5. Urban densification issue : vertical forest offer solution for the cities which are lack of space due to over population. The main aim was to create building without harming greenery. When more people come to the cities they requires faces for living and hence it leds to vertical expansion. The main idea was to cover building walls with greenery if the ground spaces are not left for them.
Key benefits :- No extra land use , greenery is created on the existing buildings , it controls urban sprawl and also maintain ecological balance.
6. Localise ozone reduction effect : when vehicle emissions and industrial pollutant comes in the contact with the sunlight they create ground level ozone which is also called bad ozone, which causes them – asthma, lung inflammation and problem in breathing. bad ozone exist on building’s height (10m – 30m).
The plants and the greenery present at the wall absorb ozone molecules , filter and neutralize them. This specifically works well on mid to high buildings levels. And it is more useful near hospital buildings and school. The Sacramento urban tree study found up to 34% reduction in population-weighted ozone exposure in targeted zones.
How Does Vertical Forest Design Work in Modern Architecture?
Vertical garden design is complex but not hard. Green wall architecture requires patience level to let plants grow properly. We will now understand vertical garden irrigation system also.
1. Biological architecture : traditional buildings use dead materials like glass Steel concrete iron but vertical forest involved live in organism like plants but bees and other insects. Their design involves multiple layers
Primary layer includes structural steel and concrete core, secondary player involve planter boxes with artificially made water drainage system tertiary layer which include route and code system to support full growth not only shrubs or climbers. And that’s what we call ecological engineering.
2. Wind resistance and root box engineering : you might be thinking that green roof is little bit similar to vertical forest but unlike green roof vertical forest support deep rooted and medium size plants. Design must with stand from wind shear , weight shift and seasonal leaf density variations hence specially designed Steel reinforced root boxes are embedded with load handling plates and aerodynamic logical placements. To know more about green roof visit our page
3. Intelligent irrigation and greywater : these building do not perform manually watering instead the use AI powered irrigation system, humidity sensor and automatic greywater bio- filtration cycle. These buildings use rainwater harvesting layers in facades. All these things make the building closed loop living ecosystem.
4. Perfect positioning : vertical forest plants are not just randomly placed, they are perfectly placed for effective photosynthesis. A vertical forest can be divided into three layers for perfect positioning. At the bottom level air purifying and noise reducing species are planted like bamboo and ficus. The mid layer favour pollinator friendly plants that attracts birds and insects, helping urban biodiversity. At the top layer house drought tolerant plants are placed which can resist wind and they have shallow root system
5. Maintenance optimised green building: unlike rooftop gardens vertical forest recover aerial accessibility. every planting module is designed for detachment so that plant can be replaced without using scaffolding. Maintenance of vertical forest manually is very risky hence nowadays drones and robot arms are deployed for the maintenance. Plants are attached with a QR code for automated watering schedules care logs and species information .
Which Real-Life Vertical Forests Show Living Wall Architecture in Action?
1. Indian example Forest office, pune Maharashtra. Architect : studio VDGA , completed in 2019 , located in pune maharashtra INDIA. This office is rare example of corporate vertical forest concept in india. It has dense plantation in facade including plants such as bamboo, shrubs vertical creepers. They regulate temperature naturally. It has grey water and rainwater harvesting system. It also helps in energy reduction around 35-40%. It is a commercial building in which these greenery is not just only use for aesthetic look but also used for thermal insulation, acoustic dampening and psychological comfort.
2. Bosco vertical, milan, italy. Architect: stefano boeri architetti, completed in 2014 , located in Milan Italy. This vertical forest is world’s 1st full fledged vertical forest with upto 800 trees and 5000 shrubs on balconies. It reduce urban heat by 2°C in the surroundings. It generates 60 kg of oxygen per resident every year , this biodiversity includes birds bees and butterflies. One unique point is that posco vertical Milan is not just a design architecture but it also redefines urban ecology. It’s a living example of architecture meeting forest climate.
What Are the Future Prospects, Challenges, and Disadvantages of Vertical Forests?
1. Upcoming future
We know that AI is evolving the upcoming vertical forest could be AI operated, in future these buildings will use AI powered sensors to auto monitor – soil moisture level, aur pollution absorption capability and plants health. Different and new types of plants will be also included, like before only ornamental plants were added but now – pollinator friendly plants , micro wetland modules and even genetically modified are being added in these buildings. Nesting boxes are also placed for the birds.
Currently it was only for expensive cities and it was not affordable for low income housings but in future it will be affordable becouse many developing countries like INDIA BRAZIL Phillipines are building modular vertical gardens. Fresh air and thermal comfort could reach to urban poor areas
2. Management (A lot of systems are used but only uncovered topics are mentioned below)
Management of vertical forest is not only handled by gardeners, it needs multi disciplinary maintainance team. These are the staff members, experts in their field – arborists (tree health experts), horticulturists( plant selection and nutrition), facade climbers, irrigation technician and AI system engineers. BOSCO VERTICAL FOREST has dedicated tree climbers who rapple down skyscrapers for pruning.
Smart irrigation and moisture monitoring systems for regular water supply and plant health. Ecological load monitoring system for ensuring root expansion, rain water retention and structural integrity. This system use dynamic structural sensor
3. Disadvantages
Urban wildlife conflict, bird nesting near balcony window makes too noise and un-hygienic. Bees are insects colonies may form near the balconies which make it inhabitable and risky, if bees colony attack certain residents.
Vertical forest buildings required continuously at supply, in water scarce countries it creates pressure on the local government like municipality. Poorly treated greywater can lead to pathogen spawning.
In affordable housings lack of funding is common and at last due to un proper maintenance plants and shrubs get dry and creates a poor look which decrease building value.
Ending up :- Re thinking the concrete jungle.
These vertical forest buildings are more than just green facades, They are living , breathing structures which is completely different from our traditional building. From battling pollution to boosting bio diversity, vertical forest benefits are amazing. The management requires planning precision and a team. Vertical forest also have some disadvantages but only when the monitoring/management team is not working effectively. If Something has pros then there is cons also.
