Bellezza
Bosco Verticale: Milan’s living jungle high-rise
When architecture stops replacing nature and starts wearing it
If traditional skyscrapers are monuments to glass and steel, Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan is a living, breathing ecosystem.
Completed in 2014, these two residential towers host over 800 trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 perennial plants distributed across their concrete balconies. That’s equivalent to an entire hectare of woodland stacked vertically into the sky.
The vegetation isn't just decorative. The plants absorb CO₂, filter city smog, regulate indoor temperatures, and have brought over 20 species of birds back to central Milan. It redefined urban design worldwide, proving that a modern metropolis can grow with nature rather than replacing it.
Here's a tip for visiting: Take a walk through the Biblioteca degli Alberi park right below the towers at sunset. Looking up as the glass reflects the twilight while the leaves rustle in the city breeze shows modern Italian design at its absolute finest. And keep your eyes open: you just might spot a famous designer, actor, or football star heading home, as these luxury green towers are a coveted address for Milan's elite.
