Human Interest

Brooklyn-based design studio aprilli has presented prototypical plans for a vertical farm to be built adjacent to the cheonggyecheon stream in downtown Seoul, Korea. The vertical farm, located within the city’s heavily populated central business district, would support local food production while simultaneously contributing to the improvement of environmental quality through water, air filtration and renewable energy output.

Via Lauren Moss

A pair of skyscrapers by Boeri Studio are nearing completion in Milan, featuring as many trees as could be planted in a hectare of forest.

The studio led by Italian architect Stefano Boeri came up with the concept of Bosco Verticale, or Vertical Forest, as a way to combine high-density residential development with tree planting in city centres.

The first project born from this concept is now nearing completion in the Isola area of Milan's fast-developing Porta Nuova district. Two towers, measuring 80 and 112 metres, are set to open later this year and are already home to 900 trees.

"The project is set to create a new standard for sustainable housing," said engineering firm Arup, who is working alongside Boeri Studio to deliver the project...

Via Lauren Moss

Seven million premature deaths in a single year were the result of air pollution exposure, the World Health Organization reported recently. That’s one in eight of total global deaths in 2012. This new finding doubles previous estimates, confirming that air pollution is now the world’s single largest environmental health risk. Cities around the world are increasingly turning to technology for solutions, and here are some of the most innovative designs...

More images at the link.

Via Lauren Moss