The geography of vertical forests: Exploring the green city

Abstract

The Bosco Verticale in Milan is the world’s first vertical forest. This green building typology is now arising in cities around the globe, as a manifestation of the green city discourse. In the Netherlands, the concept has also been warmly embraced, by the cities of Utrecht and Eindhoven. Yet little is known on the lived dimensions of this recent spatial phenomenon. In this explorative study, the development of the Bosco Verticale is traced. The spatial practices and lived experiences of this building and the surrounding public spaces, by local residents and the people encountering the building in their daily lives, are investigated. These are confronted with conceptions and intentions of spatial professionals and authorities in regards to designing and developing vertical forests in the Netherlands. This study critically analyses the multiple meanings of the Bosco Verticale and its role in urban daily life. It is argued that local residents may benefit from the development of vertical forests, provided that they are enabled and encouraged to experience these green building from surrounding public (green) spaces. This study thus reveals that vertical forests can have a positive impact on the everyday experiences of the urban landscape.