Two V-shaped towers, 190 meters and 150 meters tall, provide the benefits of an urban forest such as absorbing fine dust and regulating the climate.
Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architetti has unveiled plans to add more greenery to Dubai with the Vertical Forest project. The development features two skyscrapers covered with thousands of trees and incorporates a sustainable design aimed at reducing reliance on the power grid, New Atlas reported on November 9.
The Vertical Forest is the latest addition to Stefano Boeri Architetti’s series of green-covered buildings, which already include projects in China, Albania, and the Netherlands.
The two towers are arranged in a V-shape and connected by a shared podium. They will stand 190 meters and 150 meters tall, respectively, and are expected to host over 2,600 trees and 27,000 shrubs on their façades, along with several greenhouses and hydroponic gardens. The project will also feature numerous balconies and rooftop terraces.
The project places special emphasis on water conservation, as Dubai frequently faces arid conditions. A desalination system will be installed along with a standard greywater recycling system (for domestic wastewater such as from bathing, washing, cleaning, and cooking). In addition, the towers will reduce reliance on the power grid thanks to a photovoltaic system capable of generating 5,100 kWh of clean energy.
According to Stefano Boeri Architetti, the project represents the first prototype of a Vertical Forest in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, aiming to integrate the benefits of urban forests—such as absorbing fine dust, regulating the microclimate, and mitigating the greenhouse effect—while introducing innovations like water systems for dry climates and optimizing energy production from renewable sources.
The Dubai Vertical Forest project was announced during the COP27 climate conference, held from November 6–18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Stefano Boeri Architetti stated that further research on the project’s design and overall sustainability is underway. No information has yet been released regarding the expected completion date.