Landscape Architect Articles

Coming in 2020 - The Forest City of Liuzhou08-08-17 | News

Coming in 2020 "?u The Forest City of Liuzhou
A master plan for a new green city currently under construction in northern Liuzhou.

Italian architect Stefano Boeri's design for a forest city in Liuzhou, China combines the challenges of energy self-sufficiency via renewable energy with effectively reducing air pollution through landscape. The 342-acre city will comprise some 70 buildings, 40,000 trees and nearly 1 million plants of over 100 species. Rendering: Stefano Boeri Architetti (www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net)

Italian architect Stefano Boeri recently made headlines worldwide with his "Vertical Forest' design for two apartment towers in Milan, Italy (LASN June 2017 issue, and at www.landscapearchitect.com article #29395).

Stefano Boeri Architetti (www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net) now has a master plan for a new green city currently under construction in northern Liuzhou, a mountainous region of southern China in the Guangxi area, which lies on Vietnam's northeastern border. "Guang" means "expanse" and the area is known for its rivers, limestone caves and prominent karst formations. Guangxi (pop. 47 million) encompasses 14 prefectures, 109 counties and 1,396 townships. At 91,400 sq. miles, the region is the same size as Laos.

Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning has commissioned the Liuzhou Forest City. It's reported the new city will cover 342 acres along the Liujiang River, be home to 30,000 people and comprise some 70 buildings, 40,000 trees and nearly 1 million plants of over 100 species. The plants and trees will not only be in the parks, gardens and along the streetscapes, but fully integrated with the buildings' fa?????ades.

The World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that China is the world's deadliest country for air pollution. According to WHO data, more than 1 million Chinese died from the country's dirty air in the course of one year. Liuzhou is projected to absorb almost 10,000 tons of CO2 and 57 tons of particulate pollutants per year, while producing approximately 900 tons of oxygen. The forest city will decrease the average air temperature, create noise barriers and increase the biodiversity of living species, generating more habitats for birds, insects and small animals that inhabit the Liuzhou territory.

Solar roof panels will power the buildings, and geothermal energy will power the air-conditioning. The new green city will also boast fast electric rail service and be entirely connected to the web.

This innovative urban settlement, slated for completion in 2020, will combine the challenges of energy self-sufficiency via renewable energy with effectively reducing air pollution.

Following the success of his Vertical Forest in Milan, Stefano Boeri Architetti continues to lead in bringing new landscape models to the next generation of architecture and urban environments in this era of climate change concerns.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2017.