Easyhome Huanggang Vertical Forest City Complex, located in Hubei province, is the first Chinese vertical forest apartment building designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti China. It just opened and is now home to its first residents.
Huanggang Vertical Forest combines open and closed balconies. The design interrupts the smooth façade of the building to create a continuous sense of movement. Accented throughout are trees and shrubs with the ability to grow to full height on the exterior of the structure.
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“The design allows an excellent view of the tree-lined facades, enhancing the sensorial experience of the greenery and integrating the plant landscape with the architectural dimension,” said Architect Stefano Boeri. “Thus, the inhabitants of the residential towers have the opportunity to experience the urban space from a different perspective while fully enjoying the comfort of being surrounded by nature.”
The vertical forest covers an area of 4.54 hectares and consists of five separate towers. Two of which are residential and designed as vertical forests. It’s a new green way of designing mixed-use buildings, which include residential spaces along with hotels and large commercial spaces.
The plantings of the Vertical Forest are sourced from local species. Huanggang’s forest is made up of 404 trees. The primary trees are ginkgo biloba, osmanthus fragrans, acer griseum, ligustrum lucidum and chimonanthus praecox. Also included in the vast amount of greenery fit onto the towers are 4,620 shrubs. The middle-sized shrubs and smaller shrubs are hibiscus mutabilis, elaeagnus pungens, nandina domestica and euonymus alatus. Additionally, there are 2,408 square meters of perennial grass, flowers and climbing plants including ophiopogon bodinieri, sedum lineare and liriope spicata.
These plants are beautiful and good for the wellbeing of the residents on a mental level. However, they are also good for the environment. Altogether, they absorb an astonishing 22 tons per year of CO2 and produce 11 tons per year of additional oxygen.
Images via RAW Vision Studio
