Utrecht’s newest apartment block will become a vertical forest

Benefits from vertical forests like Wonderwoods

Implementing vertical forests into large buildings is one of the most efficient ways to reintroduce nature back into dense urban cities dominated by concrete and glass.

Built into Wonderwoods’ structure will be 300 trees belonging to 30 different species, plus thousands of plants dotted around them.

This abundant greenery will benefit the surrounding area’s microclimate and contribute positively to the well-being of people living in the building.

Lush foliage growing on the outside will create a natural cooling effect in the local atmosphere. It will protect residents and office workers from overheating during increasingly frequent heat waves.

As a result, this cool air will keep energy bills low for residents and companies renting office spaces by reducing the need for air conditioning.

What kind of trees are being planted?

A carefully thought out selection of plant species have been chosen to populate Utrecht’s Wonderwoods.

By creating a collage of different plant species – all of which bloom at different times of the year – the trees will provide a constant stream of nourishment for insects, bees, and birds in the surrounding environment.

For example, the yellow cornel flowers are amongst the first to bloom in spring. Nectar from these flowers provides energy for bees as they begin their first days of pollination each year.

In the autumn, berries will emerge on the branches of hawthorn, rowan, and currant trees which are popular food sources for local birds. Not to mention, many of these trees change colour with the seasons, making for a beautiful spectacle to local residents.

It sounds like Wonderwoods is set to be a hub for an abundance of life. It will be a place where humans come to live and work, in the midst of a flourishing micro-ecosystem where plants and animals continue to interact around them.

We’ll have to wait until 2024 to see it in its final form, but I’d say it doesn’t sound like a bad place to live!