The legendary Hanging Garden of Babylon has been recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the idea of constructing a building that incorporates lush greenery into its design has always excited architects since then. This is why it comes as no surprise that Switzerland – a country celebrated for its design traditions – is planning to build an over-100-meter-tall residential tower that would demonstrate the symbiosis of architecture and nature. Its façade will feature about 100 cedar trees, 6,000 shrubs, and 18,000 plants on projecting terraces.
Dubbed as La Tour des Cedres (The Cedar Trees Tower) is designed as an evergreen sustainable technology wonder that will be equipped with solar power and rainwater collection stations. The vegetation is expected to filter air, regulate temperature, protect the residents from noise pollution and contribute to biodiversity of the city.
The architect behind this concept is Stefano Boeri. It is his second project of this kind. He designed the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) complex – two vegetation-integrated buildings that have recently opened its doors to residents in Milan, Italy. Below is its image.
It amazing that the Lausanne landscape is going to feature a new fascinating landmark that will definitely stand out for its evolving aesthetics. Still, many experts have concerns about the project’s feasibility as maintaining a small forest on a building requires elaborate logistics that will ensure proper watering and filtration. Cedar trees have deep roots, and it’s questionable that they will grow comfortably in planters in the sky. Moreover, the emphasis on sustainability seems to be merely a publicity stunt – with $4.25 million that it costs to put trees on the skyscraper, it’s possible to restore a 100 times larger area of horizontal forest.
The project is expected to be completed by 2017. We’ll need to wait for a couple of years to find out whether La Tour des Cedres will turn into 36 storeys of new quality of urban life or a new example of Alice in Renderland. Anyway, below are really beautiful renderings of the project you can enjoy right now.
