The Physalia

Clean waterways are now in danger anywhere in the world. With the aim to meet the needs of maintain a sustainable management of water resources especially in Europe, Vincent Callebaut Architectures designed the Physalia, a prototype of an amphibious garden. The Physalia is a floating agora that is designed to clean the waterways in Europe. Aside from its use of cleaning the waterways, the Physalia itself is earth friendly as well, for its roof contains a double pneumatic membrane with photovoltaic solar cells. The physalia’s hull on the other side has hydro-turbines that provides hydro-electricity by transforming the fluvial stream’s energy.

Milan’s Vertical Forest - The future of city skylines?

The Vertical Forest will be the greenest building in Milan when completed, which is one of Europe’s most polluted cities.

Designed by Stefan Boeri Architects, as part of their BioMilano vision to incorporate 60 abandoned farms into a greenbelt surrounding the city. The Bosco Verticale building has a green façade planted with dense forest systems to provide a building microclimate and to filter out polluting dust particles. The living bio-canopy also absorbs CO2, oxygenates the air, moderates extreme temperatures and lowers noise pollution, providing aesthetic beauty and lowering living costs.

Each apartment balcony will have trees (900 plantings are planned for the two buildings) that will provide shade in the summer and drop their leaves in winter to allow in winter sunlight. Plant irrigation is provided via a grey-water filtration. Additionally, photovoltaic power generation will help provide sustainable power to the building.