Nanjing's Green Towers: A Breath Of Fresh Air?

China is notorious for its poor air quality, with smog from coal plants, factories, and vehicles choking its cities. In 2017, the situation in Beijing became so severe that schools were closed, planes grounded, and cars banned from the roads. To tackle this issue, Chinese urban developers are turning to forest cities covered in plant life, with the first vertical forests planned for Nanjing, the capital of China's Jiangsu province. The Nanjing Green Towers, designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, will be Asia's first vertical forest, featuring 1,100 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs. These towers are expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce 60 kilograms of oxygen daily. While these projects are a step in the right direction, architect Stefano Boeri acknowledges that it will take more than a few towers to solve China's pollution crisis.

The Nanjing Green Towers will be Asia's first vertical forest

China is facing serious problems with air pollution. In December 2016, the situation in the capital Beijing became so bad that everyday life was disrupted, with schools closed and cars banned from the roads. To tackle this issue, Chinese urban developers are turning to forest cities where offices, hotels, and residential buildings are covered in plant life.

The Nanjing Green Towers are a pair of towers planned for the Pukou District of Nanjing, the capital of China's Jiangsu province. The taller tower will reach a height of 200 meters (656 feet) and will include offices, a museum, a green architecture school, and a private rooftop club. The shorter tower, at 108 meters (354 feet) high, will be a Hyatt hotel with a rooftop swimming pool. Both buildings will rest on a 20-meter-high podium with restaurants, shops, and a conference hall.

The Nanjing Green Towers are expected to bring environmental benefits and contribute to the beautification of the urban environment. They are part of a growing trend of innovative buildings that aim to mitigate pollution and improve air quality in cities. However, it is also important to address pollution at its source through lifestyle changes such as choosing sustainable mobility solutions.

The towers will be covered in thousands of plants, shrubs and trees

China has long struggled with air pollution, with smog from coal plants, factories, and vehicles choking its cities. In 2017, the situation in Beijing became so severe that schools closed, and planes and cars were grounded. To combat this issue, China is turning to innovative solutions, including the Nanjing Green Towers project.

The Nanjing Green Towers will be a pair of multi-use buildings in the Pukou District of Nanjing, the capital of China's eastern Jiangsu province. The taller tower will stand at 200 metres (656 feet) high, while the shorter tower will be 108 metres (354 feet) high. The taller tower will feature offices, a museum, a green architecture school, and a private rooftop club. The shorter tower will be a 247-room Hyatt hotel with a rooftop swimming pool. Both towers will rest on a 66-foot-high podium with restaurants, shops, and a food market.

The towers will be covered in thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees from nearly two dozen local species. In total, the towers will feature 1,100 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs. This greenery is expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce about 60 kilograms of oxygen daily. The plants and trees will change with the seasons, giving the towers a living, breathing quality.

The Nanjing Green Towers project is inspired by Italian architect Stefano Boeri's Vertical Forest concept, which he first realised in Milan, Italy in 2014. Boeri recognises that two towers will not solve China's air pollution crisis but hopes that the project will serve as a model for future green architecture in the country. He and his team are already working on plans for forest cities composed of numerous buildings covered in plant life.

The project is expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide a year

China has long struggled with air pollution, with smog from coal plants, factories, and vehicles choking its cities. In December 2015, the situation in Beijing became so severe that schools were closed, planes grounded, and cars banned from the roads. To tackle this issue, China has embarked on an innovative project: the Nanjing Green Towers.

The Nanjing Green Towers, also known as the Nanjing Vertical Forest, is a pair of multi-use buildings planned for the Pukou District of Nanjing, the capital of China's eastern Jiangsu province. The project, designed by Italian architecture firm Stefano Boeri Architetti, aims to improve air quality by covering the facades of the towers with thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees. The taller tower will stand at 200 meters (656 feet) high and will feature offices, a museum, a green architecture school, and a private rooftop club. The shorter tower will be 108 meters (354 feet) high and will include a 247-room Hyatt hotel. Both buildings will rest on a 20-meter (66-foot) high podium with restaurants, shops, and a conference hall.

The Nanjing Green Towers are expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce about 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of oxygen per day. This is achieved through the thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees that will cover the towers, acting as enormous, verdant air filters. The project draws on the concept of vertical forests, with the Nanjing towers following the prototypes of Stefano Boeri's original Vertical Forest in Milan, Italy, and a subsequent project in Lausanne, Switzerland.

While the Nanjing Green Towers are a positive step towards mitigating pollution, it is important to recognize that they are not a standalone solution. As Boeri himself acknowledged, two towers in a large urban environment like Nanjing are a small contribution to the overall issue. However, the project serves as an example and a starting point for further replication and expansion of green architecture. Boeri and his team envision creating entire ""forest cities" in China, with sustainable mini-cities composed of numerous buildings covered in greenery.

The Nanjing Green Towers project demonstrates a creative approach to addressing air pollution in China. By combining innovative design with nature, the project offers a model for how future developments can contribute to improving air quality in urban environments. While it is just one piece of the puzzle, it showcases the potential for greener and more sustainable cities.

The taller tower will be 200m high, the shorter tower 108m

The Nanjing Green Towers project, also known as the Nanjing Vertical Forest, consists of two towers of varying heights. The taller tower will stand at 200 meters (656 feet) high, while the shorter tower will be 108 meters (354 feet) high. The project is designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, following the Vertical Forest model, which aims to improve air quality by covering the facades of the towers with thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees.

The taller tower will feature 28 floors of office space, a museum, and a "green architecture school." It will be crowned by an ultra-dense "green lantern," surrounding a private rooftop club. The shorter tower will house a 247-room Hyatt hotel and will feature a swimming pool on its roof.

The two towers will be connected at their bases by a 20-meter-tall podium, which will serve commercial, recreational, and educational functions. The podium will include retail spaces, a food market, restaurants, a conference hall, and exhibition spaces. It will also provide pedestrian access, directly connecting to the urban public space, and will feature garden areas on the fifth floor, overlooking the hotel and the green architecture school.

The vertical forest design is expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce about 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of oxygen per day. This will contribute to regenerating local biodiversity through the planting of native species. The greenery will also provide aesthetic value, creating a beautiful, lush environment within the concrete and glass landscape of the city.

The Nanjing Green Towers project is part of China's efforts to combat air pollution and improve the environment. By covering the towers' facades with vegetation, the project aims to reduce air pollution levels, acting as a giant breathing air filter in the city. The project draws on the success of similar vertical forest projects, such as the one designed by Stefano Boeri in Milan, Italy, and aims to bring the benefits of nature into the urban environment.

The project is designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri

The Nanjing Green Towers project is designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri. The project is a pair of multi-use buildings planned for the Pukou District of Nanjing, the capital of China's Jiangsu province. The taller tower will be 200 metres (656 feet) high, while the other tower will be 108 metres (354 feet) high. The taller tower will include offices, a museum, an architecture school, and a private rooftop club. The shorter tower will be a hotel with a rooftop swimming pool. Both buildings will rest on a 66-foot-high podium that will host a food market, restaurants, a shopping centre, and a conference hall.

The towers will be covered in trees, cascading plants, and shrubs, with 1,100 trees from 23 local species, as well as 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs. The greenery is expected to absorb 25 tons of carbon dioxide a year and generate about 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of oxygen per day. The idea behind the vertical forest is to reduce air pollution levels, creating a giant breathing air filter in the city.

Boeri has acknowledged that two towers will not solve China's air pollution problem but hopes that this model of green architecture can be replicated and serve as an example for future projects. He and his team are working on the concept of "forest cities," envisioning entire settlements constructed of "green architecture." These cities would be composed of smaller, more sustainable communities with smart and clean transport systems, urban farming techniques, and renewable energy technology.

Boeri's previous projects include the Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy, and a similar project in Lausanne, Switzerland. He also has plans for other vertical forests around the world, including in Shanghai and Chongqing, China.

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