Global populations are congregating in cities. Eighty per cent of the world’s estimated nine billion people in 2050 are expected to live in urban areas. In response cities are growing upwards and outwards.
A good environment is a precondition for a good quality of life. Cities are now competing to attract business, tourism and a mass influx of people. Planners are searching for solutions to reinvigorate environments and strike a balance between population density and the enjoyment of space.
People are instinctively drawn to nature, and trees are a vital part of city environments. They bring human scale and a vital link to the seasons. When you think of New York, the image of tree lined avenues softens the austerity of the architectural landscape. The problem is that trees take many years to grow and fully mature. Over time they require careful maintenance and their roots can damage roads and pavements.
In early 2007 we thought this issue was interesting to investigate. Our solution was to speed up the ‘greening’ process by creating a structure on which fast growing climbing plants and vines can flourish.
This sculpture is shaped like a real tree for practical as well as aesthetic reasons.
Its narrow trunk maximizes space at ground level, while its canopy provides both physical and emotional cover. This design is intended as a place for resting, relaxation, and sociability - providing welcome shade in the summer and a city landmark and meeting point all year.
There are a wide variety of plants suited to grow on this sculpture. Annuals grow quickly, bloom all summer and die back in winter. Perennials are woody deciduous climbers with the foliage returning year after year, requiring minimal maintenance.
