Milan built apartments with living trees!

7 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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In this solo explanatory video, Dan Novaes describes Milan’s Bosco Verticale, a pair of residential towers whose balconies are covered with shrubs, trees, and other vegetation, turning the buildings into vertical forests. He explains the motivation—limited urban green space—and the environmental benefits, including carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen production, urban heat reduction, and new habitats for birds and insects. Novaes also outlines the engineering challenges such as weight distribution, integrated irrigation, and ongoing maintenance, emphasizing that the project reimagines existing built space rather than expanding outward.

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Bosco Verticale turned apartment buildings into living forests. In most cities, green space is limited. Parks are separated from buildings. Nature exists on the ground. But in Milan, architects tried something different. They built towers covered with trees and plants. Each balcony holds vegetation from small shrubs to full-sized trees. The buildings act like vertical forests. They absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and reduce heat in the city. They also create habitats for birds and insects. Residents don't just live in a building, they live Surrounded by nature, high above the streets, the design required careful planning. Weight distribution, irrigation systems, and maintenance had to be integrated into the structure. Bosco Verticale didn't add a park; it turned the building itself into one. Sometimes innovation is not about expanding outward; it's about rethinking what already exists and using space differently.