Plants as Material: Bosco Verticale

 Gina Malfatti: Critical Terms in Modern Architecture Spring 2023 Let’s talk plants and architecture! When I think about how plants are used in buildings, I picture them as little embellishments. It is nice when buildings incorporate landscaping and offer greenspace, but it isn’t a requirement to feature greenery and vegetation in every building design. Maybe there is a rooftop garden on a high-rise, or decorative potted plants in designated areas.    Consider this though: what if plants were used as an actual architectural element, integral to the design and function of a building? Now imagine this scenario applied to a massive high-rise residential building. Ahhhh the dream! It sounds like an image of eco-friendly cities of the future, greenery and industry wrapped up in one. In Milan, however, Boeri Studios has made this a reality.      Above: Bosco Verticale with the city of Milan in the background. Source: archdaily.com Bosco Verticale, or the Vertical...