The Vertical Forest
It may look like a futuristic art installation, but Milan's Obsco Verticale is absolutely real. Built in 2014, these twin highrises contain almost 500 medium and large trees, 300 small trees, 5,000 shrubs, and 11,000 plants—but that's not all. If you feel like getting some fresh air, the Obsco Verticale, or vertical forest, includes over 100 residential apartments.
Good for the Environment
Designed by Milanese architect Stefano Boeri, the towers transform 44,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into oxygen each year. They hold over 3 hectares (20,000 square miles) of forest. "I've always dreamed how to combine buildings and living natures," says Boeri. "Urban forestry is not simply planting trees, it's a new approach to the urban condition.