Liuzhou Forest City in China – Can’t See The City For The Trees?

Liuzhou Forest City is able to absorb almost 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide yearly (Stefano Boeri Architetti)

If you are familiar with the latest architecture trends, it is very likely that you think about buildings planted with trees and bushes on each floor in case you hear the name Stefano Boeri. In 2015, his architecture firm announced to build the first Cedar Trees Tower in Switzerland. Some months later, the Italian designer presented a planned building project – a high-rise park called Vertical Forest – for the Chinese city of Nanjing. But only one with trees planted multistory building doesn’t seem to be enough. China recently started construction work on Liuzhou Forest City in the southern Chinese Province Guangxi west of Hongkong. It stretches over 175 hectares along the Liujiang River. Very likely the first ever planned city consisting of plenty buildings with extensive facade greenery.

40,000 Trees – Nearly 1 Million Plants – More Than 100 Species

Commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning, houses, hotels, offices, hospitals and educational institutions will be completely covered by shrubs and trees. It will not only offer homes to around 30,000 people. Liuzhou Forest City is able to improve the air quality by absorbing almost 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of pollutants yearly. Roughly 900 tons of produced oxygen contribute providing healthy air for the inhabitants of this innovative city. But all the greenery fulfills a further function: The countless leaves and branches on every floor work as natural noise barriers. Also birds and insects will like the new habitat.

According to the Master Plan, Stefano Boeri Architetti aims to connect Forest City with electric cars driving on a fast rail line. But the focus is not only on greenery and emission-free mobility. The objective of energy self-sufficiency can probably be achieved through renewables like geothermal energy or solar panels on the roofs.

For residents, it is interesting to know how the maintenance and plant care is organized. Furthermore, how is about the safety? Actually, there should be a reliable solution to protect people from falling branches.