INTERNATIONAL
ADVENTURES IN VERTICAL FORESTS
tree - it was at the centre of everything. We had lots of
issues that we had to solve and consider. We undertook
a two-year feasibility study and mocked up the
design, all the time sharing our concerns with people
experienced enough to identify the best solutions. We
then had to take into consideration the needs of the
client and to make sure we were doing all they asked
of us.”
Choosing the right plant for the right place was
central to the design process. Gatti says: “We were
looking for species that had the ability to withstand
conditions such as wind pressure on crowns, had a
low sensitivity to pests and diseases, plants that would
enjoy container cultivation and also required low
maintenance. We had to consider using plants that
would not be allergenic or poisonous to inhabitants
and would have the capability to mitigate air pollution
and provide relief from audio pollution too.”
One of the questions that has arisen over and over
in response to the Bosco Verticale project is: ‘How will
you deal with the problem of tree roots and what kind
of maintenance will be required on the project
going forward?’
Gatti is at pains to underline how important the
choice of species is to the success of the design: “If a
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Landscape Insight | August 2017