Garden City: Supergreen Buildings, Urban Skyscapes and the New Planted Space

by Anna Yudina

A spectacular global survey of some of the world’s most inventive buildings―increasingly relevant in the face of climate change―which bring architecture and horticulture into a sustainable whole How can our urban jungles be transformed into skyscraper forests that help our cities provide new forms of sustenance, from urban farms to breathing buildings?The topic is increasingly in the public eye, and the answer is already cropping up on our streets. Garden City captures the growing global movement among contemporary architects for biodesigning buildings that are less structure and façade, more living entities, capable of being ecologically autonomous, horticulturally productive, and both pleasing to the eye and relevant to our day-to-day lifestyles. More than 100 (mostly completed) projects are presented here, a life-affirming range of design ideas that can be applied to new buildings and those needing rehabilitation. From offices that incorporate urban farms and exchange the CO2 produced by humans for food and oxygen produced by plants, to lightweight systems for growing gardens on vertical surfaces; from “tree houses” the size of city blocks to civic buildings that connect to existing water-management systems―there are rich and often unexpected ideas for every designer. The future of our urban architecture is biologically alert, naturally self-sustaining, and alive. Garden City is the visual resource charting this frontier of new urban architecture. 300+ color illustrations

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 21, 2017

Reviews

[Jenn Gazdecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look at active projects and proposed buildings and how they incorporate more green spaces into the urban landscape. It is just a taste of each project so if you are looking for extensive information about any one of them or an in depth look at the various technologies this is not the book for you. But if you’re looking for a book to dip your toe into the possible future of urban green spaces this is a lovely place to start. The book is full of photographs, sketches, artist renderings, and schematics for the various projects discussed.

[Mehsi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dit leek me heel interessant, maar sorry, het was gewoon retesaai. Ja, de eerste gebouwen waren wel interessant (en soms ook best mooi om te zien), maar de rest? Nou, ik hoop niet dat ik dat soort architectuur ergens gaan zien, wat is dat lelijk zeg. Sorry, maar het is nou eenmaal zo. Soms zag ik nou niet eens een stuk natuur. Ik heb vaak met moeite te tekst gelezen (want saai), dus vaak heb ik maar gewoon de foto's bekeken.
Nee, niks voor mij. Geef mij maar gewoon historische gebouwen, veel beter.