Urban forests
Like their rural forest counterparts, urban trees purify the air in their surroundings and provide shade and habitats for animals. they can also cool city air by between two and eight degrees Celsius, reducing the need for air conditioning by 30 per cent when planted near buildings. In a world where urban forests are becoming more important than ever, there are some initiatives underway aiming to bring more trees to city life. London’s garden bridge was one such proposed project, but something that has been brought to reality is Milan’s Vertical Forest. designed by boeri Studio Architects, the two high-rise residential buildings are planted with 23,000 trees and plants specifically selected and placed for their physical properties. they wanted to make the forest an integral part of the architecture, as well as having a functional role in reducing city pollution and absorbing carbon dioxide.